Predictors of the effects of 4 years of growth hormone replacement on bone mineral density in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency - a KIMS database analysis

SummaryObjective Growth hormone (GH) replacement may increase bone mineral density (BMD) in GH-deficient (GHD) adults. The goal of this study was to identify predictors of BMD response to GH replacement in GH naive adults. Design and measurements This was a retrospective analysis of data extracted from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database), an international pharmacoepidemiological survey of adult GHD patients from 31 countries. Patients A total of 231 GH naive adults were identified (115 women and 116 men) who had BMD measured on the same densitometer in the lumbar spine (LS) and/or femoral neck (FN) both at baseline and after 4 years of GH replacement. Results After 4 years, there was a median (10th, 90th percentile) 4·6% (−5·2%, 12·2%) increase in LS BMD over baseline (P = 0·0001). There was a positive correlation between per cent change in LS BMD and age at the onset of pituitary disease (r = 0·25, P = 0·001). There was no change in FN BMD over baseline [0·0% (−7·3%, 8·5%)]. On multivariate analysis, older age at the onset of pituitary disease predicted a greater increase in LS BMD on GH replacement (r = 0·55, P