Effect of somatotropin of mammalian cell origin in growth hormone deficiency
S. D. Frasier, C. R. Rudlin, H. J. Zeisel, H. H. Liu, P. C. Long, B. Senior, D. N. Finegold, B. B. Bercu, J. F. Marks and G. P. Redmond
Department of Pediatrics, UCLA.
Sixty-nine growth hormone-deficient patients were treated for 1 year with
somatotropin (recombinant DNA-derived human growth hormone) produced in
mouse cells. The growth velocity of the 50 patients (72%) in whom the
effectiveness of this growth hormone could be evaluated increased from a
mean (+/- SD) of 3.5 +/- 1.1 to 8.7 +/- 1.6. cm/y. An enhanced rate of
weight gain was also observed. Bone age was not unduly accelerated. One of
66 patients developed antibodies to recombinant growth hormone, which did
not affect the response to therapy. No patient developed antibodies to host
cell proteins. An increased insulin response to a standard glucose load,
without any change in glucose tolerance, was observed after 1 year of
treatment. This authentic sequence human growth hormone preparation
produced in mammalian cells is both effective and safe in the treatment of
children with growth hormone deficiency.