Growth Hormone in Children With Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) and With Crohn's Disease

Summary

The investigators hypothesize that the anabolic effects of Genotropin (somatropin) will improve the height and weight of children with inflammatory based chronic illness who have failed to grow despite receiving adequate nutrition. The investigators will test the hypothesis by treating 32 chronically ill children (16 JRA and 16 Crohn's) with growth hormone (GH) for 12 months and comparing them to baseline.

Timeline

Start

2007-08

Primary completion

2010-05

Completion

2010-05

Publications

• Background Bechtold S, Ripperger P, Muhlbayer D, Truckenbrodt H, Hafner R, Butenandt O, Schwarz HP. GH therapy in juvenile chronic arthritis: results of a two-year controlled study on growth and bone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Dec;86(12):5737-44. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.12.8083.
• Background Mauras N, George D, Evans J, Milov D, Abrams S, Rini A, Welch S, Haymond MW. Growth hormone has anabolic effects in glucocorticosteroid-dependent children with inflammatory bowel disease: a pilot study. Metabolism. 2002 Jan;51(1):127-35. doi: 10.1053/meta.2002.28972.
• Background Hardin DS, Ellis KJ, Dyson M, Rice J, McConnell R, Seilheimer DK. Growth hormone decreases protein catabolism in children with cystic fibrosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Sep;86(9):4424-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem.86.9.7822.
• Background Hardin DS, Rice J, Doyle ME, Pavia A. Growth hormone improves protein catabolism and growth in prepubertal children with HIV infection. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2005 Sep;63(3):259-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02331.x.
• Background Hardin DS, Adams-Huet B, Brown D, Chatfield B, Dyson M, Ferkol T, Howenstine M, Prestidge C, Royce F, Rice J, Seilheimer DK, Steelman J, Shepherds R. Growth hormone treatment improves growth and clinical status in prepubertal children with cystic fibrosis: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Dec;91(12):4925-9. doi: 10.1210/jc.2006-1101. Epub 2006 Oct 3.

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