Changes of Body Mass Index in Turner Syndrome Before and after Growth Hormone Therapy

Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common chromosomal abnormalities in girls. Girls with TS have an abnormal or missing X chromosome that causes short stature, ovarian failure, and renovascular and cardiac anomalies. It has been shown that there is a tendency to obesity in TS. The aim of this project was to survey body mass index (BMI) in girls with TS and the changes of BMI after growth hormone (GH) therapy. Performed to evaluate if body mass index. In this prospective study BMI (kg/m2) of 43 girls with TS were calculated at baseline (at the diagnosis). 21 individuals were treated with 0.1IU/kg/day of GH subcutaneously for 6 months. Nine girls were excluded because of the delayed diagnosis (over 15 years old) and 13 girls did not complete the treatment. The mean age at diagnosis was 12.47 years old, and the weight and height of the girls were lower than standard. The mean of BMI was 18.78+3.69 and 18.56+2.05 before and after 6 month GH therapy, respectively. No significant changes in BMI was observed. The mean height of patients was 119 ± 4 cm (lower than normal) at the beginning of study and 123 ± 15 cm after GH therapy. This study documented that short – term GH administration was not associated with the changes of BMI in the girls with TS.