Lack of effect of growth hormone therapy on the count and density of melanocytic naevi in children

Abstract

An observation of accelerated growth of acquired melanocytic naevi (AMN) during treatment with human growth hormone (GH) raised concerns about the potential risk of melanoma in treated patients. An increased number of AMN, rather than growth rate, is associated with a higher risk for melanoma. It is unknown whether treatment with GH causes an increase in numbers of AMN. We evaluated the effect of GH treatment on the number of AMN in a cross-sectional study of 90 children with GH deficiency. AMN counts and densities in these children were compared with those found in a control group of 100 children. Factors potentially related to increased numbers of AMN, such as age, sex, skin colour, number of episodes of sunburn and duration of GH therapy were determined. Among the various factors, only the age and colour of unexposed skin area were predictive for the total number and density of AMN. No correlation was found between the AMN counts or density and the duration of GH therapy. There was no difference in AMN counts or density between the GH-deficient patient group and the control groups. We conclude that GH therapy in children is not associated with increased AMN count and density and is unlikely to potentiate the risk for melanoma in these children.

Halo nevus, rather than vitiligo, is a typical dermatologic finding of Turner's syndrome: Clinical, genetic, and immunogenetic study in 72 patients

“…32 In 1993 Bourguignon et al 33 reported faster growth of nevi in children treated with GH, but several studies have failed to confirm these data, concluding that GH therapy is not associated with increased acquired melanocytic nevi count and density. 34,35 In our patients, however, this therapy failed to influence the appearance of HN. Moreover, we could not establish in our group of patients a close relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and the presence of HN, even though HN were more frequent in patients with TS and X-ring karyotype.…”

Turner's syndrome in dermatology

“…Furthermore, an increased number of nevi rather than growth rate has been associated with a higher risk for melanoma. 111 Additional studies have failed to confirm any pathologic or harmful impact of hGH on the number or density of melanocytic nevi 99,[112][113][114] or on the incidence of skin cancer in children treated with hGH. 114 There have been no reports of increased melanoma for patients with elevated hGH, such as those with acromegalia.…”

Evaluation of Cutaneous Modifications in Seventy-Seven Growth Hormone-Deficient Children

“…In normal male volunteers aged over 60, GH administration induced marked skin modifications with improvement of skin thickness [6]. It has been also reported that in children with idiopathic short stature and girls with Turner syndrome, GH treatment stimulated the growth of melanocytic naevi without inducing malignant transformation [7, 8]. …”