Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the kidney growth and renal functions in children receiving recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment. Materials and methods: A total of 37 children who received rhGH for 1.5 years before the study was started and 48 healthy controls were included at first evaluation. Hormone levels were determined and kidney sizes were measured by ultrasound. Kidney functions were assessed by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). After 3 years of first evaluation, 23 patients were re-assessed. Results: Kidney sizes were found to be lower in rhGH received children compared with controls at first evaluation (p50.05). Significant positive correlations were found between anthropometric measurements and kidney length and kidney volume (p50.05). Height was the most significant predictor of kidney volume in rhGH received children (p50.001). After 3-years of follow-up significantly increases were found in kidney length and volume compared with the first measurements (p50.05). Increase percentage of body height was similar to increasing percent of kidney length and liver long axis (14.2%, 11.7.1% and 7.7%, respectively, p40.05). Although no abnormal renal function test results were found at first and second evaluations; rhGH received children had significantly lower eGFR, at first evaluation, compared with controls; however, renal functions significantly increased after 3 years of followup (p50.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, effect rhGH treatment on kidney growth is parallel to growth in body height and other visceral organs. A 3-years rhGH treatment resulted in significant increases in renal functions.

None of the extended-field-of-view images was diagnostic. However, they did provide valuable additional information and better documentation of the lesions.

The effect of hypothyroidism on kidney size has not been studied in children. The aim of this study was to examine the role of congenital hypothyroidism and levothyroxine (L-thyroxine) treatment on renal growth. Forty children with congenital hypothyroidism and 37 healthy controls were prospectively included. The mean age of patients was 8.2+/-4.7 years. Patients had lower height and weight standard deviation scores compared with controls. The mean L-thyroxine initial age and treatment duration were 37.0 and 60.5 months, respectively. In 62.5% of patients, L-thyroxine was initiated after 6 months of age, and 60.0% of patients had severe hypothyroidism. Patients had lower kidney length and total kidney volume compared with controls (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in kidney volume/body weight and kidney volume/ body height ratios between patients and controls (P > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed significant relationship between relative kidney volume and average free thyroxine level (P < 0.05). No significant differences in kidney sizes were found between patients who had L-thyroxine initiated before and after 6 months of age or between mild/moderate and severe hypothyroidism at diagnosis (P > 0.05). In conclusion, normal renal growth can be accomplished with L-thyroxine replacement despite considerable delay in treatment initiation and/or severe hypothyroidism.

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