Growth hormone and the kidney: the use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in growth-retarded children with chronic renal insufficiency.

Hypothalamic production of growth hormone releasing hormone stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release growth hormone (GH). The clinical manifestations of GH on tissues are either direct or are mediated by insulin-like growth factors (IGF). Both the somatic effects of GH and the renal manifestations of an increase in glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow are mediated by IGF. The increase in glomerular filtration rate/renal plasma flow that occurs with either exogenous or endogenous GH is not apparent in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF); therefore, it is unlikely that recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment of patients with CRF will result in glomerular hyperfiltration. Longitudinal studies are required to determine if the glomerulosclerosis and renal functional impairment occurring in GH and growth hormone releasing hormone transgenic mice occurs after rhGH treatment of growth-retarded uremic rats with GH resulted in an improvement in growth velocity. This led to preliminary studies in growth-retarded children with CRF by using rhGH. The acceleration of growth velocity was dramatic despite the fact that GH levels are elevated in uremia. The elevated IGF carrier proteins in uremic children may contribute to the growth retardation. Treatment with rhGH may be efficacious by stimulating a net increase in the free (unbound) IGF levels. Hyposecretion of GH may contribute to the failure to achieve optimal growth after successful renal transplantation. Treatment with rhGH may be efficacious in improving the growth velocity of renal allograft recipients.