A couple inches now, a stroke later. A study has found that children treated with growth hormone have an increased risk of developing a stroke later in life.
The growth hormone (GH) was approved by the FDA in 2003 and has become a popular medication for children as well as professional athletes. It consists of daily shots over the course of several years with several follow ups to ensure that the treatment is working.
However, a recent study published in Neurology shows that children who are treated with the growth hormone are at a higher risk of brain bleeding. It showed that they have a 1.5 to 5.3 times greater risk of having a stroke.
"The tens of thousands of people worldwide who are treated with growth hormones should be informed about this risk," said Joel Coste, senior author of the study. "More research is needed to show whether the growth hormone treatment is the cause of this increased risk but, in the meantime, parents and doctors should consider this association as they weigh up their options for treatment."
The more than 6,000 participants in the study began the GH treatment at an average of 11 years of age. The treatment lasted for about four years, and the time that passed before the last follow up was about 17 years.
They found that compared to other patients, the group should have only had between three and seven cases of stroke rather than the 11 cases that occurred. When looking at hemorrhagic strokes in particular, they were expected to have two cases rather than the eight reported cases in this group.
Common side effects of growth hormone treatment include headache, fluid retention and muscle aches.
Though the authors warn that there are several limitations to the study and several factors that were not considered, it is still necessary to be cautious of the risks associated with growth hormones.
"Doctors who prescribe growth hormone treatment will need to discuss this association, consider its strengths and weaknesses and weigh it in their recommendations," said Dr. Rebecca Ichord, who wrote an accompanying editorial for the study. "And people who have taken the therapy or start it should be informed about the signs of stroke, the importance of seeking treatment quickly and prevention strategies."
