ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not imatinib mesylate therapy induces growth hormone deficiency [GHD]. Seventeen patients with chronic myloid leukemia [CML] were enrolled in the study. The glucagons stimulation test [GST], and standard deviation scores [SDSs] of insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-I] and insulin-like growth factor binging protein [IGFBP-3] were used to determine GHD. The L-dopa test was performed on those with IGF-I SDSs above the -1.8 cut-off level. Of the 17 patients in the study, 12 [70%] had severe GHD [serum GH level<3 micro g/l after GST]. IGF-I SDSs and IGFBP-3 SDSs were below -1.8 showed insufficient GH response to L-dopa stimulation. Nine subjects [52%] had both severe GHD based on GST response and IGF-I SDS below -1.8. If an IGF-I SDS cut-off value 1<-3 were used, 5 out of 17 subjects [30%] would be classified as GH deficient. These same patients also showed severe GHD based on GST response. The data showed that a large number of patients on imatinib mesylate therapy had GH deficiency. A study involving a larger number of patients with a matched control group is needed to confirm the present observations