Decrease of small dense LDL and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 due to human growth hormone treatment in short children with growth hormone deficiency and small for gestational age status.

BACKGROUND

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and small for gestational age (SGA) status are associated with cardiovascular risks. We therefore, investigated antiatherogenic effects of growth hormone (GH).

METHODS

Subfractions of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at baseline, after 8 and 52 weeks of GH treatment in 51 short children born SGA (n=33) or with GHD (n=18).

RESULTS

The overall group showed post-treatment reductions of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.016), small-dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL-C, p<0.001), Lp-PLA2 (p<0.001), and hsCRP (p=0.005), but increase of HDL2a cholesterol (HDL2a-C, p=0.025). SGA children revealed significant correlations between Lp-PLA2 and LDL-C and sdLDL-C both before and after GH, significant reductions of sdLDL-C, Lp-PLA2, hsCRP, and an increase of HDL2a-C. GHD children showed the same lipid responses, though not significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with GHD or born SGA may benefit from GH by growth acceleration and reduction of cardiovascular long-term risks.