Study to Identify Markers of Insulin Resistance During Growth Hormone Treatment for Short Stature

• Status: Terminated
• Trial end date: 2008-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

Growth hormone treatment improves body fat distribution but also causes insulin resistance. Scientists have recently linked insulin resistance with special stores of fat in the muscles, which can be measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The researchers hypothesize that growth hormone will paradoxically reverse the linkage between muscle fat stores and insulin resistance. To assess this association and to investigate the cause(s), the researchers will measure muscle fat stores during growth hormone treatment. Other parameters linked to insulin resistance (glucose tolerance, blood markers, and body composition) will also be assessed. This study may lead to improved strategies for monitoring growth hormone therapy.

• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Treatments: Hormones; Insulin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Girls, with Turner syndrome or ISS; height standard deviation score (SDS) ≤ -2

• Bone age ≤ 12 years

• Normal birthweight

• Body mass index (BMI) = 10th-90th percentile

• Normal childhood activity; no physical or other limitations

• Normal, balanced diet (20-40% calories from fat)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Puberty (beyond Tanner Stage 1)

• Diabetes in subject or first degree relative

• Sex steroid therapy

• Chronic conditions requiring medication (treatment for hypothyroidism is permissible)

• Significant systemic disease (pulmonary, cardiac, renal, or other)

• Non-removable metal