Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Growth hormone therapy is given to children with GHD and Turner Syndrome. The growth promoting effect may also involve the eye. Objectives: To study the short-term effects of Growth hormone therapy on the eyes of 13 females and 17 males (3 Turner Syndrome and 27 growth hormone deficiency cases). Subjects and methods: GHD patients received GH at a dose of 0.09 IU/kg/daywhile Turner Syndrome cases received a dose of 0.14 IU/kg/day.Auxological data was obtained before and 6 months after starting treatment a well as an eye examination including refraction, axial length and a fundusstudy. Results:Height SDS improved significantly from -4.75SDS to -4.35 SDS(0.22 SD) in the first 6 months of therapy, with a similar significant increase in weight SD (increased by 0.23 SD) and target height SDS {u2013} Height SDS (increased by 0.22 SD). Mean axial lengths of the eyes increased significantly from 21.04 to 21.42 andrefraction of the eye increased none significantly from 0.81 to 0.97..Papilledema occurred in 1 of case and an MRI brain revealed a partial empty sella.No cases developed retinopathy. Other side effects occurred in a minority of cases and were mild (e.g., oedema, arthralgia, pain at injection sites, mild behavioural changes). Conclusion: GH treatment is generally safe and effective in inducing growth. However, eye changes must be monitored as refractive errors and/or papilledema may occur

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