Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 P1455

ICEECE2012 Poster Presentations Pituitary Clinical (183 abstracts)

Glucose metabolism in children with GH deficiency before and after GH therapy

L. De Martino , D. Capalbo , R. Di Mase , A. Esposito , M. Rezzuto , F. Barbieri & M. Salerno


University Federico II, Naples, Italy.


Background: Adults with untreated GH deficiency (GHD) may have a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors. The effects of GH replacement therapy on insulin homeostasis in GHD subjects are still debated. Only a few studies investigated the effects of GHD and GH therapy on glucose metabolism in children.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of GHD and GH treatment on glucose metabolism in a large cohort of GHD children before and after GH replacement therapy.

Subjects and methods: Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA were assessed in 60 GHD children, aged 9.8±0.3 years, before and after 1, 2 and 4 years of GH therapy. 60 healthy, age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy controls were enrolled.

Results: In GHD children at baseline, fasting glucose (77.8±1 vs 77.9±1.2 mg/dl), insulin (4.7±0.4 vs 4.6±0.4 μU/ml), HOMA (1.26±0.2 vs 1.12±0.1) and HbA1c (5.29±0.1 vs 5.29±0.04%) levels were comparable to healthy controls. One year of GH therapy (33 μg/kg per day) was associated with significant increase in insulin (7.69±0.6, P<0.0001) and HOMA (1.64±0.15, P=0.009), without significant changes in fasting glucose and HbA1c levels. Insulin and HOMA levels did not further increase after 2 (7.56±0.6 and 1.85±0.2 respectively) and 4 years (7.65±0.7 and 1.5±0.1 respectively) of treatment, remaining significantly elevated compared to pre-treatment levels. Fasting glucose and HbA1c did not change after 2 and 4 years of GH therapy.

Conclusions: Untreated GHD was not associated with significant alterations of insulin homeostasis. One year of GH treatment was associated with a slight impairment in insulin sensitivity without further change during long-term GH therapy.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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