Decrease of small dense LDL and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 due to human growth hormone treatment in short children with growth hormone deficiency and small for gestational age status.

Background: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and small for gestational age (SGA) status are associated with cardiovascular risks. We therefore, investigated antiatherogenic effects of growth hormone (GH).

Methods: Subfractions of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at baseline, after 8 and 52 weeks of GH treatment in 51 short children born SGA (n=33) or with GHD (n=18).

Results: The overall group showed post-treatment reductions of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (p=0.016), small-dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL-C, p<0.001), Lp-PLA2 (p<0.001), and hsCRP (p=0.005), but increase of HDL2a cholesterol (HDL2a-C, p=0.025). SGA children revealed significant correlations between Lp-PLA2 and LDL-C and sdLDL-C both before and after GH, significant reductions of sdLDL-C, Lp-PLA2, hsCRP, and an increase of HDL2a-C. GHD children showed the same lipid responses, though not significantly.

Conclusions: Children with GHD or born SGA may benefit from GH by growth acceleration and reduction of cardiovascular long-term risks.