Human growth hormone stabilizes walking and improves strength in a patient with dominantly inherited calpainopathy
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
The aim was to investigate if daily low-dose treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (somatropine) can stabilize or improve muscle strength and walking capability in a patient with dominantly inherited calpainopathy. The patient was treated with daily injections of somatropine, except for a 6-month pause, over a period of 4.5 years. Efficacy was assessed by repeated muscle dynamometry tests and 6-minute walk tests (6MWT). Strength improved in most muscle groups on treatment, deteriorated in the 6-month off treatment, and improved again when treatment was resumed. The 6MWT stabilized during the initial 18-month treatment period, then deteriorated in the 6 months off treatment and improved to pre-trial levels when treatment was resumed. The findings suggest that supplementation with somatropine, within physiological ranges, may improve muscle strength and stabilize walking capability in a patient with calpainopathy. This finding calls for testing of somatropine supplementation in muscular dystrophies in a randomized study.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Neuromuscular Disorders |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 4 |
Pages (from-to) | 358-362 |
ISSN | 0960-8966 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2017 |
- Aged, Female, Human Growth Hormone/pharmacology, Humans, Muscle Strength/drug effects, Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle/drug therapy
Research areas
ID: 194975657