Response to growth hormone therapy in ring chromosome 15: Review and evidence from a new case on possible beneficial effect in neurodevelopment

• Published in: Growth hormone & IGF research Vol. 71; p. 101550
• Main Authors: Wannes, Selmen, El Ahmer, Ikram, Rjiba, Khouloud, Jemmali, Nessrine, Abdallah, Hamza Haj, Haj, Rania Bel, Achour, Asma, Bouzidi, Hassan, Saad, Ali, Mougou, Soumaya, Mahjoub, Bahri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2023
• Subjects: GH-IGF1 axis; Growth hormone therapy; Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor; Neuroendocrinology; Ring chromosome 15; Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor; Ring chromosome 15; Neuroendocrinology; GH-IGF1 axis; Growth hormone therapy
• ISSN: 1096-6374; 1532-2238; 1532-2238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2023.101550

Type 1 Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor(IGF1R) plays a fundamental role in normal growth and development. Its disruption is usually characterized by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly and neurodevelopmental delay.The efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone treatment remains a challenge for children with IGF1 resistance and pathogenic mutations of IGF1R, with limited data in patients carrying the most severe form of IGF1R defect, the ring chromosome 15. We tested a high dose of rhGH in a new patient with ring chromosome 15, as confirmed by karyotype and CGH array. We performed a systematic review, and all published r(15) syndrome cases treated by growth hormone(GH) up to April 2023 were searched, and their response to GH therapy was recorded and summarized. Twelve patients with ring chromosome 15 received GH therapy according to a literature review. We expand the spectrum by the 13th case treated by GH, and we report an impressive improvement in intellectual performance and progressive catch-up growth after 5 and 20 months of follow-up. By introducing our new case in the analysis, the sex ratio was 3:10, and GH therapy was started at the age of 5.5 (3/9.4) (years) for an age of diagnosis of 4.75 (1.3/9.5) (years). The height before GH therapy was −5.1(−5.9/−4.1) SDS. The median duration of treatment was 1.7(0.9/2) (years), with a median height gain of 1(0.3/1.8) SDS and an improvement in growth velocity of 4.1(2.8/5.3) (cm/year). GH seems to be effective for r(15) syndrome patients with short stature. •IGF1R plays a fundamental role in normal growth and development, and Ring chromosome 15 represents the most severe form of IGF1R defect.•High doses of growth hormone treatment in patients with ring chromosome 15 should be considered and have good statural effects.•We report an improvement in neurodevelopment with a high dose of growth hormone treatment in a patient with ring chromosome 15, but no data from a literature review and previous cases support such an effect.