Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 2, Supplement , Pages S46-S50, 2007

Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis as a Complication of Growth Hormone Therapy

  • Shuo-Yu Wang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yi-Ching Tung

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wen-Yu Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Wen-Yu Tsai, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yin-Hsiu Chien

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jing-Sheng Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wuh-Liang Hwu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 20 July 2005; received in revised form 4 November 2005; accepted 7 March 2006.

Article Outline

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a rare complication of growth hormone (GH) therapy. Here, we report three patients who developed SCFE during GH therapy. The first two patients had hypopituitarism and had started GH therapy at the age of 15 years 6 months and 13 years 9 months, respectively. SCFE developed 4 years and 1 year after GH therapy, respectively. The third patient had Prader-Willi syndrome with obesity and hypogonadism and began GH therapy at the age of 12 years and 11 months. SCFE developed 2 months after starting GH therapy. Pain over the hip joints or over the knees is an early sign of SCFE. Despite recommendation, none of the three patients continued GH therapy. A high index of suspicion during GH therapy in patients at high risk of SCFE is important for early diagnosis and appropriate management. [J Formos Med Assoc 2007;106(2 Suppl):S46-S50]

Key Words:  growth hormone deficiency , growth hormone therapy , Prader-Willi syndrome , slipped capital femoral epiphysis

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60352-1

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60352-1

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 2, Supplement , Pages S46-S50, 2007

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