EVALUATION OF GROWTH HORMONE IN POLYTRANSFUSED THALASSEMIC PATIENTS WITH SHORT STATURE AND EFFECT OF L•CARNITINE TREATMENT

Abstract

The study included 30,fl-thalassemic patients with mean age

13.8±1.7( yr) and another 30 children with <:onstitutional short stature as a controL Anthropometric measures, thyroid profile, tGF-1 and growth hormone provocation by 2 tests were done at first then follow up of all patient for 6 months without treatment then 8 patient with gr-owth hormone deficiency were given L-carnitine for 6 months then followed up by anthr-opometric measures, IGF-1 and growth hormone. -twelv£ Resu/ts:12(40%)patients had sub-dinical hypothyroidism,

1'0(33.3%)had growth hormone response lower than 10ng/ml in two

-provocation tests.

Maximum GH and growth velocity (em and SDS) in 8-thalassemic patients were found to be significantly lower while weight.(SDS) and weight I height SDS were significantly higher than patients with constitutional

short stature (P < 0.05). Height SDS had a significant positive correlation with estimated mature height and a significant negative correlation with Chronological age (yrs) and target height- height SDS (P <•0.05). Estimated mature height (em) had a significant positive correlation with height SDS, target height (em), IGF1 SDS and significant negJative correlation with target height- height SDS (P < 0.05). 8 patients with growth hormone deficiency wereijiven L-carnitine for 6 months.