Somatomedin and Growth after Renal Transplantation

Extract: Hormonal and metabolic factors which influence growth were studied in nine growth-retarded uremic children who received renal homografts. Post-transplant growth velocity based on bone age (GVBA) became normal in four (88–103%), accelerated in two (127–139%), and remained subnormal in three (18–50%). Serum somatomedin (SM), was very low in all children before transplant (0.39 ± 0.10 U/ml), but rose in each child after transplantation. Post-transplant somatomedin (0.84 ± 0.14 U/ml) was not significantly different from the somatomedin of eight healthy male control subjects matched for bone age (1.03 ± 0.16). Post-transplant GVBA was directly correlated (P 9.1 mg/m2/24 hr).