Growth hormone treatment of Prader–Willi syndrome has long‐term, positive effects on body composition

Abstract

Men with PWS who received GH treatment displayed positive effects on body composition independent of when the GH treatment had started. Only patients who gained weight developed diabetes. The duration of GH treatment should balance the benefits and observed side effects.

Prader Willi Syndrome

“…Among the 11 subjects with IGT, three progressed to overt diabetes, while three reverted to normal glucose tolerance. Höybye et al, studied 10 men with PWS after more than 5 years of GH treatment 60 . The men who began treatment during childhood years were taller (178 ± 11 cm versus 156 ± 5 cm) and had lower fat mass and higher fat free mass.…”

“…Two of these were treated with GH in childhood for 6 to 7 years duration and two were treated in adulthood with GH duration 14 to 23 years. The authors concluded that the decision to use GH needs to weigh both the benefits and potential side-effects in each patient 60 .…”

Growth Hormone Therapy in Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome

“…Consistent with the Scandinavian study, there was no significant change in BMI in any of these studies. A recent study of 10 males with PWS treated with hGH at a mean dose of 0.35 mg/day in adulthood for a mean of 15.5 years reported maintenance of a higher fat free mass than fat mass in all [ 29 ].…”

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome

“…It is well known that long-term treatment with GH in children and adolescents with PWS improves not only growth velocity, height standard deviation score, and final height, but also the degree of visceral obesity and increased LBM 9,[33][34][35] . However, GH treatment is a relatively new concept in adults with PWS, and knowledge of its long-term effects is limited.…”

“…All the studies, which ranged from 12 to 72 months, showed that GH treatment improved body composition, with an increase in lean body mass and a reduction in total body fat and subcutaneous and visceral fat 38) . In 2015, Hoybye et al 33) reported positive effects that GH treatment had on the body composition of men with PWS were also maintained during very long-term treatment (more than 15 years). All things taken together, the concept of continuous GH treatment after cessation of skeletal growth is desirable to maintain good body composition and prevent complication of obesity.…”