Leukemia in a patient treated with growth hormone

Endocr J. 2000 Aug;47(4):471-3. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.47.471.

Abstract

It is well known that growth hormone (GH) therapy is associated with increased risk of development of malignant tumors, especially leukemia. In the case presented, growth hormone treatment was initiated in a 25-year-old patient with hypopituitarism. After 4 months of therapy with thrice a week injections of rhGH, acute myelogenous leukemia developed. It was thought that no clearcut evidence existed to establish a relationship between the growth hormone treatment and development of acute leukemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Growth Hormone / adverse effects*
  • Growth Hormone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypopituitarism / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / chemically induced*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Growth Hormone