Journal Article

Improved Mental and Motor Development During 3 Years of GH Treatment in Very Young Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome

Hokken-Koelega, Anita C S, Damen, Layla, Mahabier, Eva F, Donze, Stephany H

2018

Overview

Infants and toddlers with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have mental and motor developmental delay. Short-term data suggest a positive effect of GH on mental and motor development in infants and children with PWS. There are, however, no longer-term results about the effects of GH treatment on mental and motor development. To investigate the longer-term effects of GH on psychomotor development in infants and toddlers with PWS and the effect of age at start of GH treatment on psychomotor development. Prospective cohort study during 3 years of GH treatment. The PWS Reference Center in the Netherlands. All children were treated with GH 1 mg/m2/d (≈0.035 mg/kg/d). Mental and motor developmental age assessed with Bayleys Scales of Infant Development II and expressed as percentage of the expected development (100%). During 3 years of GH, mean (SEM) mental development increased from 58.1% (2.8) at baseline to 79.6% (3.7), and motor development increased from 41.9% (2.9) to 78.2% (3.9; both P < 0.01). A lower baseline psychomotor development and a younger age at start of GH treatment were associated with a higher increase in mental and motor development (P < 0.01). Mental and motor development increased significantly during 3 years of GH treatment, reducing the gap between infants with PWS and healthy peers. A younger age at start of GH treatment leads to greater improvement in psychomotor development.

• Publisher: Copyright Oxford University Press,Oxford University Press
• Subject: Age / Children / Infants / Mental development / Physical growth / Prader-Willi syndrome