High Postnatal Growth Hormone Levels Are Related to Cognitive Deficits in a Group of Children Born Very Preterm
- Scratch, SE
- Anderson, PJ
- Doyle, LW
- Thompson, DK
- Ahmadzai, ZM
- Greaves, RF
- Inder, TE
- Hunt, RW
DOIAbstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known regarding the influence of GH on brain development, especially in infants born very preterm (VP; <30 weeks' gestation). Preterm infants are thought to have higher levels of GH in the first days of life compared with full-term infants. VP infants experience cognitive difficulties in childhood and have a diffuse pattern of structural brain abnormalities. This study aimed to explore the relationship between postnatal GH concentrations following VP birth and its association with cognitive functioning and brain volumes at age 7 years. METHODS: Eighty-three infants born VP had GH concentrations measured at eight time points postnatally, and 2- and 6-week area under the curve (AUC) summary measures were calc...