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Body Composition as a Clinical Endpoint in the Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency

Body Composition as a Clinical Endpoint in the Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency Endpoints in the treatment and management of adults with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) can be problematic. Changes in body composition with recombinant human GH (rhGH) treatment may be one of the most objective measures that could be applied in judging the effectiveness and long-term efficacy. The relative strengths and weaknesses of measures of body composition and their potential for clinical utility in the setting of rhGH replacement in GHD in adults are discussed. Measurement of changes in body fat, regardless of the method employed, from pretreatment baseline through 2–6 months of treatment may be quite useful in demonstrating the efficacy of rhGH in each patient. Other changes in body composition are compromised by the imprecision of the measurements, shifts in extracellular water, and the small real changes which occur in bone and muscle in the GHD subject. Use of body composition measures of change in fat content as an endpoint in determining the efficacy of rhGH treatment in adults with GHD cannot be implemented on the basis of current data and would require a carefully designed prospective, controlled study. Until such criteria are established and accepted, endocrinologists must continue to manage these patients purely on the basis of their clinical judgment. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Hormone Research in Paediatrics Karger

Body Composition as a Clinical Endpoint in the Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency

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References (28)

Publisher
Karger
Copyright
© 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel
ISSN
1663-2818
eISSN
1663-2826
DOI
10.1159/000053176
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Endpoints in the treatment and management of adults with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) can be problematic. Changes in body composition with recombinant human GH (rhGH) treatment may be one of the most objective measures that could be applied in judging the effectiveness and long-term efficacy. The relative strengths and weaknesses of measures of body composition and their potential for clinical utility in the setting of rhGH replacement in GHD in adults are discussed. Measurement of changes in body fat, regardless of the method employed, from pretreatment baseline through 2–6 months of treatment may be quite useful in demonstrating the efficacy of rhGH in each patient. Other changes in body composition are compromised by the imprecision of the measurements, shifts in extracellular water, and the small real changes which occur in bone and muscle in the GHD subject. Use of body composition measures of change in fat content as an endpoint in determining the efficacy of rhGH treatment in adults with GHD cannot be implemented on the basis of current data and would require a carefully designed prospective, controlled study. Until such criteria are established and accepted, endocrinologists must continue to manage these patients purely on the basis of their clinical judgment.

Journal

Hormone Research in Paediatrics – Karger

Published: Nov 1, 1999

Keywords: rhGH; Methods in measuring body composition

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