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Recombinant human growth hormone in infants and young children with chronic renal insufficiency

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Abstract

Children with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) secondary to congenital structural abnormalities frequently have significant growth retardation by 2 years of age. In a multicenter placebo-controlled study of the use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), 30 of 125 (24%) participants were<2.5 years of age at enrollment. Since the treatment arms of the study were balanced for age at randomization, data for these patients were examined for efficacy and safety. During the first 2 years of the study, approximately two-thirds of the patients (n=19) received rhGH 0.05 mg/kg per day subcutaneously and one-third (n=11) received placebo injections. At entry into the study, the mean (± SD) calculated creatinine clearance was 29.2±14.3 (range 12.0−63.7) ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the rhGH-treated group and 23.3±15.1 (range 8.0−59.4) ml/min per 1.73 m2 in the placebo-treated group. The 1st year growth rate was 14.1±2.6 cm/year for the rhGH-treated group and 9.3±1.5 cm/year in the placebo-treated group (P<0.00005). During the 2nd year of the study, the growth rate was 8.6±1.2 cm/year in the rhGH-treated group compared with 6.9±1.0 in the placebo groupP=0.025). The Δ height standard deviation score was +2.0±0.7 for the rhGH-treated group compared with −0.2±1.1 in the placebo-treated group (P<0.00005) during the 2 years of the study. Minor adverse events occurred with similar frequency in both groups. These data suggest that rhGH is efficacious and safe in children with CRI under age 2.5 years. rhGH therapy may correct significant loss of growth at this age when used in conjunction with optimal medical management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, 11794-8111, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Richard N. Fine

  2. Department of Medical Affairs, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA

    Kenneth M. Attie, Joyce Kuntze & Douglas F. Brown

  3. Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    Edward C. Kohaut

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  1. Richard N. Fine
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  2. Kenneth M. Attie
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  3. Joyce Kuntze
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  4. Douglas F. Brown
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  5. Edward C. Kohaut
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Genentech Collaborative Study Group

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Fine, R.N., Attie, K.M., Kuntze, J. et al. Recombinant human growth hormone in infants and young children with chronic renal insufficiency. Pediatr Nephrol 9, 451–457 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866726

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00866726

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