Beneficial Effect of Growth Hormone on Severe Delay in Motor Development in A Child with Down Syndrome

Abstract

We administered recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) to a 4-year and 3-month old girl with Down syndrome who had a severe delay in motor development as well as short stature in an attempt to induce acceleration of motor development. She measured 91.5 cm (-2.61 SD) and weighed 13.4 kg. She had pervasive developmental delay without acquisition of language or the ability to sit up. There was improvement in her growth rate after r-hGH administration. She was capable of walking by herself after 5 months of r-hGH therapy. Eleven months after the initiation of treatment, the patient (5 years and 1 month) measured 97.8 cm (-2.43 SD) and weighed 15.2 kg. The protein anabolic activity of GH seems to have improved muscle strength and motor ability leading to improvement of her quality of life. This suggests that r-hGH therapy may be a beneficial treatment for children with Down syndrome.