Comparison of Growth Parameters in Two Groups of Children with Chronic Renal Failure Treated with and without Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of growth hormone on growth parameters such as Z scores for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI), and height velocity in two groups of children with chronic renal failure (CRF) treated with and without growth hormone. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted on all children aged 6 months to 16 years with a short suture who had chronic kidney disease and indication of the growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy during the years 2016 to 2018 at Sheikh Nephrology Clinic. In our study, growth parameters including Z scores for height, weight, and BMI were measured in each patient at the beginning and at the end of follow-up. To assess the effect of growth hormone, growth parameters were compared between the two groups at the beginning and at the end of follow-up. Also, height velocity was compared in the growth hormone treated and untreated groups. Results: Results showed that a significant difference between the two groups in terms of height velocity in the first year (P=0.013) and the whole period (P=0.003). Also, there was no significant difference between two groups in terms of height Z score at the start of follow-up (P=0.101), but it was significant at the end of the follow-up (P=0.044). Results of comparing weight Z scores, BMI values and laboratory parameters in two groups at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up showed no significant differences. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that growth hormone replacement therapy can improve height growth in patients with CKD-induced growth impairment.