ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is useful for growth failure in short stature children. But there are some reports of renal disease or complication occurring during rhGH treatment. GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), together with other growth factors and cytokines, have important roles in adaptive morphological and functional changes in the kidney. This study was aimed to reveal the renal complication of hematuria and proteinuria in children and adolescents those who have received rhGH treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children who treated with rhGH. Enrolled patients were divided into five groups according to the underlying disease; growth hormone deficiency (GHD), idiopathic short stature (ISS), small for gestational age (SGA), short stature with central precocious puberty (CPP), and Turner syndrome (TS).

Results: 169 patients (76 males, 93 females) were enrolled and the mean age was 9.8 (±3.0) years. 53 patients (31.4%) were GHD, 17 (10.1%) were ISS, 30 (17.8%) were SGA, 44 (26.0%) were CPP, and 25 (14.8%) were TS, respectively. 19 patients (14.3%) showed microscopic hematuria or proteinuria. 11 patients (6.5%) had isolated microscopic hematuria, 10 patients (5.9%) showed isolated proteinuria, and two patients (1.6%) had both microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. Renal complication according to the disease was as follows; four out of 53 patients (7.5%) in GHD, two out of 17 (11.8%) in ISS, three out of 30 (10.0%) in SGA, two out of 44 (4.5%) in CPP, and eight out of 25 (32.0%) in TS, respectively.

Conclusions: In our study, 19 patients (14.3%) who underwent rhGH therapy showed renal complication such as microscopic hematuria and/or proteinuria. In patients with TS, eight (32.0%) out of 25 patients revealed renal complication. We must carefully follow up for any renal complication in those who have received rhGH treatment, especially in Turner syndrome.