Abstract
Background/Aims: There is limited information on the impact of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the muscle-bone unit in children with Crohn’s disease (CD). In this pilot study, we report on the effects of rhGH on bone formation, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) total body (TB) bone mineral density adjusted for height and lumbar spine (LS) bone mineral apparent density (BMAD), and body composition. Methods: Prospective study of 8 children with CD (6 male), aged 14.8 years (9.0–16.4), who received rhGH for 24 months. Serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) was measured at baseline and at 6 months. DXA was performed every 6 months. Results: Six months of rhGH led to improvement in P1NP SDS adjusted for bone age from –3.6 (–7.9 to –0.9) to –2.4 (–3.7 to 0.4) (p = 0.01). At baseline, reduction in LS-BMAD and TB lean mass SDS was observed being –1.2 (–3.6 to 0.8) (p = 0.01 vs. zero) and –0.8 (–2.4 to 3.0) (p = 0.11 vs. zero), respectively. No significant changes were seen in DXA bone and muscle parameters over the 24 months. Conclusion: Twenty-four months of therapy with rhGH in CD did not lead to an improvement in DXA BMD and lean mass, despite improvement in P1NP and linear growth.
