Growth hormone therapy in neonatal patients with methylmalonic acidemia.

BACKGROUND Information regarding growth hormone (GH) therapy in neonatal patients with methylmalonic academia (MMA) is lacking. We present our experience with GH therapy in neonatal patients with MMA. METHODS Four neonatal patients with mut 0 type MMA were identified through newborn screening for elevated propionylcarnitine (C3) levels. GH therapy (0.6 IU/kg/week, subcutaneously) was prescribed for patient 1 after 1 month of admission, and was prescribed for patients 2, 3 and 4 on the 1st day of admission. We evaluated weight, skin erosion, hospital stay, and serum levels of C3 after GH therapy. RESULTS All of the neonatal patients with MMA displayed obvious weight gain and distinct improvement in skin erosions after GH therapy. The duration of hospital stay for patients 2, 3 and 4 was reduced compared to that of patient 1. However, the metabolic effects of GH therapy on reducing serum levels of C3 seem to be indeterminate. CONCLUSION Our clinical findings suggest that GH therapy has potentially beneficial effects on neonatal patients with MMA.