Effect of growth hormone administration of serum somatomedin-C levels in bilharzial and liver disorders patients

ABSTRACT

This work was designed in an attempt to clarify the effect of the growth hormone injection on the serum somatomedin-C [SM-C] levels in Egyptian children with urinary bilharziasis, advanced bilharzial hepatic fibrosis and children suffering from chronic hepatitis compared with 11 healthy age and sex matched children served as controls. SM-C levels were studied prior and after the injection of human growth hormone [hGH]. The basal and hGH-stimulated SM-C levels were significantly reduced in bilharzial patients compared with controls. Patients with hepatitis had significantly lower serum SM-C values prior or post hGH administration. Liver tests carried out for bilharzial patients showed impaired function both on admission and after treatment. It can be concluded that shortness in children with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis may results from hepatic and endocrinal and nutritional factors. Also, the results suggested that the delayed skeletal maturation in chronic hepatitis cases is probably secondary to liver dysfunction, malnutrition and associated endocrinopathies