Renal effects of growth hormone. I. Renal function and kidney growth.

Growth hormone (GH) affects renal function and kidney growth. Pituitary-derived or recombinant human GH (rhGH), acting via insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), increases glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (RPF) in GH-deficient as well as in normal adults. Furthermore, GFR and RPF are low in hypopituitarism and elevated in acromegaly. These effects of GH on GFR and RPF have not been demonstrated in moderate renal insufficiency. IGF-1 is implicated in compensatory renal hypertrophy. Markedly elevated levels of serum GH accelerate glomerular sclerosis in rodents, although the significance of these findings for GH treatment in humans is uncertain. rhGH therapy offers great promise to children with short stature from various aetiologies. Preliminary reports on the use of rhGH in children with renal disease and after renal transplantation have not shown any consistent change in kidney function, although follow-up times are short. The long-term impact of rhGH therapy on kidney function in short children needs further evaluation.