Effect of Puberty and Gender on Metabolic Hormones Level and Lipid Profile in Patients with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Abstract

The current study aims to evaluate the effect of puberty and gender on metabolic hormones level and lipid profile in a sample with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Seventy-five Iraqi patients with GHD (45 boys and 30 girls) within the age range (3-15) years were involved in this study. The study was achieved in the National Diabetic Center for Treatment and Research /Al-Mustansiriya University in a period of October, 2018 to April, 2019.

Blood samples were obtained from the patients to determine the level of basal GH before stimulation with clonidine, GH2 and GH3 after 1 h. and 1.30 h. stimulation with clonidine, respectively; insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1); level of metabolic hormones [thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (thyroxin) (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and cortisol]; and lipid profile [cholesterol, triglycerides (TGs), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)].

Effects of the puberty on the studied parameters revealed that the levels of GH2, IGF-1, TGs and VLDL were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the pubertal group than the pre-pubertal group, while levels of T3 and T4 were significantly (P<0.01) lower in the pubertal group compared to the per-pubertal group. Non-significant (P>0.05) differences were found in level of other parameters (GH, GH3, TSH, cortisol, cholesterol, HDL and LDL) between the two groups. Effect of gender on the studied parameters showed non-significant (P>0.05) differences between boys and girls.

It can be concluded from this study that puberty effects on some parameters such as GH2, IGF-1, T3, T4, TGs and VLDL in patients with GHD; while gender shows no significant effect on the all studied parameters.

Keywords:

Growth hormone deficiency, metabolic hormones, puberty, gender

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