GH treatment, BMI and different genotypes in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and scoliosis: Is there any relationship?

The purpose of this study is to try to find a protocol defining a clinical diagnostic procedure for the patients to be admitted to the authors’ Institute to receive treatment for either suspected or confirmed diagnosis of spine deformity in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The aim is to evaluate every subject from the diagnostic point of view, assessing variability of clinical expression and evolution of spinal deformity in the light of the related genetic aspects, thus providing a univocal protocol. The present series only includes patients (18 cases) with PWS, 7 hospitalized for surgical treatment of scoliosis, 11 followed-up at the authors’ institute only for conservative treatment of scoliosis. Both BMI tracks (weight/height2) and BMI Z-score (only for children older than 2 years) were assessed. Moreover, the GH treatment was evaluated for each group of patients as follows: being administered, suspended or no treatment. Finally, the gene was compared with BMI. No relationship was observed either between GH treatment and mean BMI or between genetics and mean BMI. More patients should be seen by the authors to confirm or refute the current findings.