ESPE Abstracts

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CDK) is one of the most common indications for treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH).

Objective and hypotheses: The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of rhGH therapy in pediatric patients with different stages of CKD.

Method: 49 children (35 boys and 14 girls) aged from 0–18 years (mean age 9.01±4.28) with proven CKD and height retardation were treated with rhGH by a single subcutaneous injection every evening at dose of 9.4 mg/m²/weekly and followed up for a period of 14 years (mean 3.48 years). The height measurements before and after treatment were analysed as S.D. score.

Results: According to the classification of CKD the patients were divided into two groups – 33 had CKD stage 2–4, and 16 had CKD stage 5. At disease onset 69.40% of the children had severe growth retardation defined by height S.D.s <−1.88; 26.50% had moderate height retardation defined by height S.D.s between −1.88 and 1.00 and 4.10% had mild height retardation defined by height S.D.s >1.00. The mean height S.D.s during the treatment period increased from −2.75 at baseline to −1.64 at treatment termination. The height S.D.s increased by 7.57% as measured at 12 month (P=0.021) and by 4.71% at 48 month of treatment (P=0.013). The reached height correlated to the disease stage at the baseline and the duration of the rhGH treatment.

Conclusion: The early and continuous treatment with rhGH in children with CKD stage 2–5 increase the height velocity in this subgroup of pediatric patients and should be taken into account in the treatment program of CKD.