Short-term effect of growth hormone treatment in childhood leukemia survivors with growth hormone deficiency

Shin, Chungwoo; Jang, Min Jeong; Kim, Seongkoo; Lee, Jae Wook; Chung, Nack-Gyun; Cho, Bin; Jung, Min Ho; Suh, Byung-Kyu; Ahn, Moon Bae

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Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab > Accepted Articles

Original article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2244028.014 [Accepted] Published online June 30, 2022.

Short-term effect of growth hormone treatment in childhood leukemia survivors with growth hormone deficiency

Chungwoo Shin, Min Jeong Jang, Seongkoo Kim, Jae Wook Lee, Nack-Gyun Chung, Bin Cho, Min Ho Jung, Byung-Kyu Suh, Moon Bae Ahn

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Address for correspondence: Moon Bae Ahn
Email: mbahn@catholic.ac.kr

Received: February 4, 2022 Revised: April 7, 2022 Accepted: April 25, 2022

Abstract

Purpose
Survivors of childhood leukemia are at risk of growth impairment due to intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. This study investigated the auxological and biochemical characteristics of childhood leukemia survivors diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and the changes in these parameters after 1 year of growth hormone (GH) treatment.
Methods
A total of 24 children diagnose with GHD after leukemia treatment were analyzed. Clinical and biochemical data were collected retrospectively at leukemia diagnosis, GHD diagnosis, and 1 year after GH treatment. Standard deviation score (SDS) was calculated based on the age- and gender-adjusted population.
Results
Of the 24 children included in this study, 19 received GH treatment. The median age at GHD diagnosis was 12.3 years, and the median delay in bone age was 1.46 years. Height SDS decreased from -0.69 at leukemia diagnosis to -2.58 at GHD diagnosis (p < 0.001). Change in height SDS with and without GH for 1 year was 0.35 and -0.21, respectively (p = 0.044). In regression analyses, higher height SDS at GHD diagnosis and less decrement of the height SDS between leukemia and GHD diagnoses were positively correlated with height SDS after GH treatment.
Conclusion
GH treatment could be beneficial and safe for improving height in childhood leukemia survivors with GHD. Height SDS at GHD diagnosis and decrement of height SDS between leukemia and GHD diagnosis could be a potential factor in predicting the therapeutic effect. Close auxological monitoring is recommended for any childhood leukemia survivors who experience post-treatment height decline.

Keywords: Leukemia, Growth hormone deficiency, Growth hormone treatment, Height