Corticosteroids and growth.

In summary, corticosteroids suppress linear growth. The growth suppression is mediated by perturbations in growth factors as evidenced by: (1) abnormal spontaneous GH secretion and a blunted response to provocative stimuli and (2) decreased local production of IGF-I. Corticosteroids suppress GH responses by altering somatostatin tone. In addition, corticosteroids are anti-anabolic with resultant protein wasting. Exogenous administration of rhGH is effective in reversing all the clinical catabolic effects of corticosteroids. The duel factors of corticosteroids and uremia which are growth suppressive can be overcome by exogenous rhGH administration.