Background/aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition of patients with childhood-onset growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) treated with GH during the transition period.
Methods: BMD and body composition, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, were evaluated at final height and yearly thereafter during 2 years. Twenty-nine of the 40 patients had also been measured before start and during GH therapy.
Results: Mean lumbar spine BMD and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) as well as total body BMD and lean body mass (LBM) SD score (SDS) were significantly lower than normal at final height and during the 2 years thereafter for all patients. Final-height SDS was related to the change in height SDS as well as in LBM SDS during the first year of GH treatment. LBM SDS decreased significantly in the group of patients with GHD without GH treatment (p < 0.01, n = 19). Fat mass SDS increased in all patients.
Conclusion: Mean BMD, BMAD and LBM SDS were significantly lower than normal in adolescents with childhood-onset GHD at and 2 years after the attainment of final height.
2009 S. Karger AG, Basel