Effects of recombinant human growth hormone treatment in intrauterine growth-retarded preterm newborn infants on growth, body composition and energy expenditure

The effects of recombinant human growth hormone treatment during the early postnatal period on growth, body composition and energy expenditure were studied in seven intrauterine growth-retarded newborns. Seven infants were studied as controls. No differences were seen in bodyweight or height gain (15.9 +/- 1.5 g/kg per day and 1.02 +/- 0.24 cm/week in the treated and 16.3 +/- 1.4 g/kg per day and 1.11 +/- 0.30 cm/week in the control group). Skinfold growth rate was 0.52 +/- 0.20 mm/week in the treated vs. 0.56 +/- 0.28 mm/week in the control group. Total body water (as a percentage of bodyweight, 80 +/- 3.0% vs. 80 +/- 4.0%) and energy expenditure (67.5 +/- 7.4 vs. 66.7 +/- 6.4 kcal/kg per day) using H-2(2) O-18 showed identical results in both groups. We conclude that recombinant human growth hormone treatment directly after birth in intrauterine growth-retarded newborn infants results neither in an increase in growth rate nor a change in body composition or energy expenditure during the early postnatal period.