Pregnancy outcomes in women with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Objective: To study pregnancies in a large group of patients with growth hormone deficiency and hypopituitarism; and to investigate potential factors determining pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy complications.

Design: We analyzed pregnancies reported in KIMS, the Pfizer International Metabolic Database, of adult patients with growth hormone deficiency treated with growth hormone.

Setting: Outpatient clinics.

Patient(s): A total of 201 pregnancies were reported: 173 in female patients and 28 in partners of male patients.

Intervention(s): Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) was prescribed according to the local clinical practice.

Main outcome measure(s): Pregnancy outcomes (live births, gestational week at delivery, and birth weight), pregnancy complications, and their relationship to use of GHRT during pregnancy were analyzed with regression models.

Result(s): Two-thirds of women underwent fertility treatment to achieve pregnancy. Growth hormone replacement therapy was stopped before pregnancy in 7.5% of the female patients, as soon as pregnancy was confirmed in 40.1%, and at the end of the second trimester in 24.7% of the patients, whereas 27.6% continued GHRT throughout pregnancy. Birth of a healthy child was reported in 79% of the female pregnancies, nonelective abortions occurred mainly in the first trimester, and one fetal malformation (cystic hygroma) was diagnosed in the second trimester. Pregnancy outcomes and pregnancy complications were not related to GHRT treatment patterns, method of conception, or number of additional pituitary deficiencies.

Conclusion(s): These data on pregnancy outcomes in a large group of women with hypopituitarism revealed no relationship between GHRT regimens and pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Growth hormone; hormone replacement therapy; pituitary deficiency; pituitary tumors; pregnancy.