ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The relationship between the level of vitamin D and the IGF1 is complex. A normal level of vitamin D is necessary for good bone growth. On the other hand, the normal growth process is affected by the excess or the deficit of growth hormone. Thus, the main purpose of our work is to demonstrate the particularity of the vitamin D status of patients with growth hormone deficiency compared to other causes of short stature.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the Mohammed VI University Hospital, Oujda, Morocco. Over a period of 5 years, 62 patients with short stature were included. The level of Vitamin D was measured as part of the 1st intention assessment for each patient.

Results: The average of the age was 11 ± 5 years with a mean diagnosis age of 6 years. The sex ratio was 1.13 including 53% of girls. The average birth weight was 3034 grams. Patients presented a statural delay at – 3.5 DS moving from -1.5 DS to -7 DS, they were also underweight at -2.5 DS.

Vitamin D deficiency was observed in 85% of patients. The mean of IGF1 of those patients was 120.5 ± 90 ng/l. The mean of vitamin D level in patients with growth hormone deficiency (32% of all cases) was 21.4 ± 8.6 ng/ml with no significant correlation comparing with the mean of vitamin D level in patients with others causes of their short stature such: syndromic statural delay, chronic diseases, low birth weight, pubertal delay and constitutional bone diseases. These patients have a mean vitamin D level of 20.4 ng/ml ± 8.6 (p de 0.69).

Discussion: Growth hormone and IGF1 deficiency have skeletal and metabolic consequences. Vitamin D deficiency maintains these serious effects on growth. The tight relationship between vitamin D levels and IGF1 makes correction of vitamin D necessary to have an optimal statural growth.