Treatment with GH in Three Patients with Intractable Nephrotic Syndrome and Severe Growth Failure

Abstract

Growth disorders induced by long term steroid hormone treatment are well known. We present here three cases of nephrotic syndrome treated with GH for severe short stature induced by long term steroid hormone therapy. Steroid hormone on alternate days (30 mg of predonisolone or 24 mg of methylpredonisolone) simultaneously for the treatment of three patients with nephrotic syndrome was necessary. Height growth before the beginning of the GH therapy was 1.5 cm, 3.0 cm and 2.6 cm per year. Height growth one year after the beginning of the GH therapy was 6.7 cm, 7.6 cm and 7.4 cm per year, respectively. Our data suggest that GH therapy is effective and safe for some cases of severe short stature patient with nephrotic syndrome.