ESPE Abstracts

Background: GH is fundamental in skeletal growth during puberty, however detailed studies of body composition analyses in adolescents with GH deficiency on GH therapy are scarce. Moreover, there are few studies on the psychologic aspects of hrGH therapy in this population.

Objective and hypotheses: In this case-control study, we investigated differences in body composition based on bio-impedance measurements between adolescents with idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD) who were treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) for at least 6 months (treatment group) and adolescents with idiopathic short stature who had not received rhGH as yet (control group).

Method: Participants were evaluated for short stature and underwent dual frequency bio-impedance assessment with the use of the BIA-ACC, BIOTEKNA© device. The questionnaires QUALISSY-C and CODI for short stature coping were distributed in both groups.

Results: Over a period of 1.5 years, 13 adolescents (ten males, three females; mean age±SD: 12.66±2.46 years) on rhGH treatment and 12 controls (seven males, five females; mean age±SD: 13.38±2.02 years) matched for age, height, BMI and bone age, were enrolled. Total (P=0.047) and extracellular (P=0.038) water volumes were significantly increased in the treatment group. Body cell mass protein (P=0.023), extracellular fluid protein (P=0.022), bone mass (P=0.038), soft tissue mineral content (P=0.016) and body calcium (P=0.017) were increased, along with increased metabolism of the bones (P=0.016) and skeletal muscles (P=0.022). Interestingly, no statistically significant differences in fat mass and in the QUALISSY-C and CODI questionnaires were found between the two groups.

Conclusion: Bio-impedance analysis is a potent, non-invasive tool for assaying body composition, confirming the expected beneficial changes of rhGH treatment. The lack of differences in the psychometric questionnaires may reflect the negative effects of short stature in both groups.

Conflict of interest: Dario Boschiero is the main investigator of BIOTEKNA srl, Venice, Italy, who provided the devices.