Turner syndrome and metabolic derangements: Another example of fetal programming

Background and aim: Turner syndrome (TS) patients have an increased risk of weight gain and metabolic syndrome. To date, it is unknown what factors are involved in this metabolic process, even though it is recognized that TS patients are frequently born small-for-gestational age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between lipid and glucose profiles with being overweight and birth weight and length in TS patients. Study design: This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects and outcome measures: Serum glucose, insulin (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured in 64 patients with TS. Data regarding birth weight and length and current body mass index (BMI) were also evaluated. Results: Total cholesterol showed a significant negative correlation with birth weight and a positive correlation with BMI; triglycerides showed significant negative correlation with birth weight and length and a positive correlation with BMI; and HOMA-IR showed a significant negative correlation with birth weight and length. Low birth weight and a high BMI were predictive for 28% of total cholesterol and triglycerides; and low birth weight for 22% of HOMA-IR. Conclusions: Lipid profile was correlated with a high current BMI and low birth weight and length in TS patients and glucose profile only with low birth weight. Thus far, growth retardation may play a role in metabolic derangements in this group of patients, being considered another example of fetal programming. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.8829910

Effects of growth hormone on body proportions in Turner syndrome compared with non-treated patients and normal women

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Background: The majority of anthropometric assessments in Turner syndrome (TS) patients has focused on height. AIM: To analyze body proportions in young adult TS patients either treated or not treated with rhGH, and to compare them with a group of age-matched healthy women. Subjects and methods: Standing height, sitting height, weight, foot and leg lengths, arm span, head circumference, biliac and bi-acromial diameters were measured in 52 non-treated TS patients, 30 treated with rhGH and 133 healthy women. Results: Age at the start of rhGH therapy varied from 7.8 to 15.1 yr (10.0 +/- 1.3 yr), the duration of treatment from 2.8 to 8.2 yr (3.7 +/- 1.5 yr) and the mean recombinant human GH (rhGH) dose was 0.42 mg/kg/week (from 0.32 to 0.50 mg/kg/week). Non-treated patients did not show any difference in anthropometric variables when compared with the treated ones, except for hand length (p=0.02) and height (p=0.05), which were increased in the treated group. All anthropometric variables, except head circumference, were different when comparing TS patients (either treated or not) with age-matched healthy women. Conclusion: Brazilian TS patients either treated or not with rhGH showed almost no differences in terms of their body proportions. This result is probably due to the late age at the start of treatment, and/or the short period of rhGH administration. Hand length was different between the groups, showing the importance of including the extremities in body proportion assessment during rhGH treatment of TS patients. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 33: 691-695, 2010) (C) 2010, Editrice Kurtis3310691695Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES