Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone status in recombinant human growth hormone therapy

Description

There is some controversy concerning a potential interaction between vitamin D and PTH and the GH/IGF-1 axis. We pose the hypothesis that rhGH therapy may modify serum calcidiol and PTH concentrations in these patients. In addition, we also hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency could condition the growth response to rhGH therapy. Longitudinal and descriptive study in 110 patients, aged 3.3–9.1 years, with GH deficiency (GHD group) treated with rhGH. At diagnosis and after 12, 24, 36, and 48 months of treatment, a clinical (height, weight, height velocity and bone age) and laboratory (phosphorus, calcium, calcidiol, PTH, IGF-1) evaluation was performed. Concurrently, 377 healthy children, aged 3.8–9.7 years, were enrolled and constituted a control group. Vitamin D status was stated in accordance to the U.S. Endocrine Society criteria. Vitamin D deficiency could condition the response to rhGH therapy, so vitamin D monitoring should be considered as a part of the routine evaluation of children with GH treatment.