Endocrine Function in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Growth impairment, IGF I hyposecretion and thyroid dysfunction in children with perinatal HIV‐1 infection

“…IGF I concentrations were significantly reduced in most infected children. These results are consistent with those reported by others (4,7,8,19). Additionally, IGF I deficiency was found more frequently in more severely affected children and in most cases paralleled the clinical course.…”

“…Reduced production or activity of growth hormone (8,19) as well as impaired hepatic synthesis (4) could give rise to IFG I hyposecretion. A clear growth hormone deficiency has however not been demonstrated in HIV-1 infected chldren (4,7,8) and only a minority of our patients had signs of severe hepatitis. We favour the hypothesis that the additional energy expenditure required to face chronic disease removes nutrient substrates from growth promoting activity.…”

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-Binding Protein 3 Response to Growth Hormone Is Impaired in HIV-Infected Children

“…32,33 In any case, in our study, the upper arm muscle areas were not significantly different when the HIV-seropositive children were compared with healthy children. The present study demonstrates conclusively that a complex alteration in the GH-IGF-I axis exists in HIV-infected children, consistent with other work, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] and is the first to show that the IGF-I response in the generation test is impaired. Thus, the lack of a synchronous pattern of GH and IGF-I release and poor IGF-I response in the generation test may be consistent with the hypothesis of a state of partial GH insensitivity in HIVinfected children.…”

Elevated Serum Thyrotropin [TSH] Levels in Critically III Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

“…et al found normal pituitary and thyroidal response to TRH Testing in a group of patients on chronic methadone maintenance (1972). A recent report of AIDS in children showed an incidence of 36% of elevated baseline TSH levels (Schwartz et al, 1991). There was no clinical evidence of opportunistic infections in the group of patients studied.…”