In children with severe rheumatic disease (RD), treatment with corticosteroids (CS) is frequently needed and growth retardation and osteopenia may develop. A beneficial effect of human growth hormone (hGH) has been reported but mostly in trials without a control group.
To study the effect of hGH on growth, bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition, taking the disease activity and CS use into account.
Randomised controlled trial on 17 prepubertal RD patients with growth retardation and/or decreased BMD. The hGH group (n = 10) received treatment with hGH 4 IU/m2/day (approximately 0.045 mg/kg/day) during two years. The controls (n = 7) received no GH treatment.
During the two year study period the disease activity, and use of CS and methotrexate (MTX) did not differ between the groups. There was a significant mean increase in height standard deviation score (HSDS) in the hGH group (0.42+/-0.16 SDS) and a non-significant decrease in the controls (-0.18+/-0.11 SDS). Change in BMD did not differ significantly between the groups, although the increase in BMD for lumbar spine within the hGH group was significant. Lean body mass improved significantly in the hGH group compared to controls (0.64+/-0.19 SDS versus -0.20+/-0.17 SDS), while the decrease in percentage fat was not significant.
There was a significant effect of hGH on growth and lean body mass, but a longer duration of treatment might be necessary to evaluate the effect of hGH on BMD.