ABSTRACT
This study aimed to detect the effects of L-T4 treatment on bone mineral and body composition in hypothyroid children, Thirty five hypothyroid patients [10 males and 25 females], mean age was 11.57 +/- 5.06 yr. Twenty six children of matched age and sex served as controls, Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA] was done to detect the bone mineral density [BMD], bone mineral content [BMC] and Z score at lumbar and femur neck regions. Body composition was also studied by DXA. Serum calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, osteoprotegrin and urinary deoxypyridinoline were measured. No significant differences were detected in lumbar Z score [-0.19 +/- 0.65] and femur Z score [-0.16 +/- 0.57] compared to controls [-0.33 +/- 0.75] and [-0.21 +/- 0.53] respectively. BMD and BMC are not significantly different from controls. No significant difference was detected between cases and controls as regard body composition. Positive correlation was detected between BMD and age [r 0.857, P<0.01], and with the period of treatment [r=0.766, P<0.01]. Positive correlation was existed between BMD and total body fat [r=0.693, P<0.01], and with abdominal fat [r=0.667, P<0.01]. L-T4 treatment in hypothyroid children doesn't alter bone metabolism and body composition
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Thyroxine , Thyroxine/adverse effects , Bone Density , Body Composition , ChildABSTRACT
Objective: Evaluation of growth hormone in poly- transfused thalassemic patients with short stature and effect of L-carnitine therapy in patients with growth hormone deficiency
Method: The study included. 30 beta-thalassemic patients with mean age 13.8 +/-1.7 yr and 30 children with constitutional short stature as a control. Anthropometric measurements, thyroid profile, insulin like growth factor -1 [IGF-1] and growth hormone [GH] provocation by 2 tests were done at the beginning of the study. Anthropometric measurements and pubertal assessment were done for all patients after 6 months. Eight patients with inadequate GH response to both clonidine and ITT were given L-Carnitine treatment at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day divided into three doses for 6 months. They were reevaluated after 6 months of therapy
Results: Twelve [40%] patients had sub-clinical hypothyroidism [diagnosed by normal free thyroxin level and elevated thyroid stimulating hormone], 10 [33.3%] patients had growth hormone deficiency. Peak GH and growth velocity /{cm and Standard Deviation Score [SDS]] were significantly lower while weight [SDS] and weight / height SDS were significantly higher than patients with constitutional short stature [P < 0.05]. A significant positive correlation was found between height and target height [cm]. Eight patients with growth hormone deficiency were given L-carnitine for 6 months [50 mg/Kg/day]. After L-carnitine treatment hemoglobin level, peak GH, IGF-1 and growth velocity [cm and SDS] were significantly increase and the number of blood transfusions was significantly decrease [p<0.05]. Delta changes were higher in height [cm and SDS], estimated mature height, sitting height and lower in target height - height [SDS and cm] six months after L-carnitine treatment in beta-thalassemic patients with growth hormone deficiency [p <0.05]
Conclusion: Growth hormone[GH] deficiency is an etiologic factor in beta-thalassemia patients with short stature. L-Carnitine can promote GH secretion and growth
ABSTRACT
Twenty-six children confirmed as having aplastic anemia [AA] and 18 age and sex matched controls were enrolled into this study. The diagnosis of AA was established according to the published criteria. Cases with pancytopenia due to cytotoxic drugs or irradiation were excluded. Blood samples were collected from all the study subjects and subjected to residue laboratory investigations [liver, kidney function tests and hematological parameters]. The present investigation showed that different organochlorine compounds [OCC] were detected in the sera of Egyptian children, despite their prohibition by law. Also, OC levels showed a great interindividual variation as well as variation according to residence and disease severity. The association between OCC and AA development is inconclusive largely due to the small sample size, the lack of accurate history about the type of pesticide used and latency period