Growth hormone combined with child-specific motor training improves motor development in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 3092 - 3103
• Main Authors: Reus, Linda, Pelzer, Ben J., Otten, Barto J., Siemensma, Elbrich P.C., van Alfen-van der Velden, Janielle A.A.E.M., Festen, Dederieke A.M., Hokken-Koelega, Anita C.S., Nijhuis-van der Sanden, Maria W.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child Development - drug effects; Child Development - physiology; Complex syndromes; Developmental Disabilities - physiopathology; Developmental Disabilities - therapy; Female; Growth hormone; Growth hormones; Human Growth Hormone - therapeutic use; Humans; Infant; Infants; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Medical genetics; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Motor development; Motor performance; Motor Skills - physiology; Obesity; Pediatric physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Physical training; Prader-Willi syndrome; Prader-Willi Syndrome - drug therapy; Prader-Willi Syndrome - physiopathology; Randomized controlled trials; Regression Analysis; Treatment Outcome; BSID-II; GH; Physical training; Motor development; Prader-Willi syndrome; DGRF; MLRA; RUNMC; Infants; GMFM; PWS; AIMS; Pediatric physical therapy; Growth hormone; Endocrinopathy; Human; Pediatrics; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Physiotherapy; Controlled therapeutic trial; Infant; Developmental disorder; Genetic disease; Somatotropin; Treatment; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Complex syndrome; Motricity; Child; Prader Labhart Willi syndrome; Alberta Infant Motor Scale; multi-level regression analysis; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Dutch Growth Research Foundation; gross motor function measure; Bayley Scales of Infant Development 2nd edition
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2013.05.043

•Infants with Prader-Willi syndrome reach motor milestones 2 times slower.•Growth Hormone treatment results in an increase in motor developmental rate and a higher final level of motor development.•Initial motor level is correlated with developmental rate and age of walking.•A large delay in motor development remains. Although severe motor problems in infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are striking, motor development has never been studied longitudinally and the results of growth hormone (GH) treatment on motor development are contradictory. The authors studied whether GH treatment can enhance the effect of physical training on motor development in infants with PWS. Twenty-two infants were followed for two years during a randomized controlled trial. The treatment and control groups began GH after baseline or following a control period, respectively. Both groups followed a child-specific physical training program. Motor performance was measured every three months. Multi-level regression analysis revealed that motor development differed significantly between infants (p<.001), and this could be partially explained by baseline motor developmental level (p<.01). GH treatment enhanced the effects of child-specific physical training on both motor developmental rate and motor developmental potential. Moreover, this effect was more pronounced when GH treatment was initiated at a younger age.