EFFECT OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (HGH) ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM (IS) OF GH DEFICIENT CHILDREN

We measured serum immunoglobulins, B cells, total, suppressor (S) and helper (H) T cells, lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function in 8 GH deficient children before and at 1-3 month intervals for 1 year of HGH treatment (tx). The patients' ages were 1-17 years. HGH was provided by the National Pituitary Agency. The growth rates of all patients increased on tx. Prior to therapy the IS was normal in all. Treatment with HGH resulted in a significant fall in % B cells in 7/8 patients. By 12 months B cell values returned to pre-treatment levels in 4/7 and to higher than lowest values in all. (See Table)