Scientific perspective on HGH and its effects on the immune system of children

Abstract

We measured serum immunoglobulins, B cells, total, suppressor (S) and helper (H) T cells, lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function in 8 GH deficient children before and at 1-3 month intervals for 1 year of HGH treatment (tx). The patients’ ages were 1-17 years. HGH was provided by the National Pituitary Agency. The growth rates of all patients increased on tx. Prior to therapy the IS was normal in all. Treatment with HGH resulted in a significant fall in % B cells in 7/8 patients. By 12 months B cell values returned to pre-treatment levels in 4/7 and to higher than lowest values in all. (See Table)

Lymphoblast responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) decreased in all 8 patients during the course of tx, in 7/8 by 6 months. At 12 months PHA response was suppressed in all 4 tested. A transient decrease in T H to T S cell ratio was noted in 4/8 patients. The rest of the immune parameters tested remained unchanged. None of the patients had an increase in number of infections during tx. We report here evidence that HGH tx has a profound influence on the immune system, affecting % B cells, PHA response and TH/S ratio.

Author information

Affiliations

1. UMD-New Jersey Med School, Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, Dept Pediatrics, Newark, N.J.
Robert Rapaport, James Oleskeo, Sally Solomon, Carol Delfaus, Raj Singh and Houman Ahdieh

Reference / Link

1. Rapaport R., Oleskeo J., Solomon S., Delfaus C., Singh R., Ahdieh H. (1984). Effect of human growth hormone (HGH) on the immune system of GH-deficient children. Pediatric Research, 18:174. doi:10.1203/00006450-198404001-00488 PubMed DOI