Effect of Growth Hormone on Early Brain Development in Girls With Turner Syndrome
Effect of Growth Hormone on Early Brain Development in Girls With Turner Syndrome
The purpose of this research study is to learn about brain development in very young girls
 with Turner syndrome (TS) and the effect that growth hormone (GH) therapy has on early brain
 development.
Studies in older children and adults have found that IQ (intelligence quotient) in
 individuals with Turner syndrome (TS) and the general population are similar. However, many
 individuals with TS have a nonverbal learning disability which may cause problems with
 imagining and working with objects in space (for example: building blocks, working puzzles,
 copying designs, driving a car) as well as problems in planning, paying attention, and
 getting along with people their own age. Studies of brain structure have found changes in the
 size and function of specific areas of the brain that are involved in these nonverbal
 processes. However, there are no data published on brain structure or function in girls with
 Turner Syndrome in the first few years of life when brains are learning and growing most
 rapidly.

 In a recent study, very young, short girls with Turner Syndrome (TS)(averaging 2 years in
 age) were treated with Growth Hormone (GH) and almost reached an average height after 2
 years. The risks of GH for the young girls in that study appeared to be the same as those for
 older girls. Therefore, it is now recommended that GH therapy be considered as soon as a
 child with TS has growth failure. Growth failure often occurs during infancy; therefore, more
 children with TS are now receiving GH therapy as young as 12 months of age. In this study,
 the investigators wish to start understanding what effect GH has on learning and brain growth
 when given between the ages of 12 and 24 months. In this study, the girls with TS will have
 developmental studies, a physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and blood
 drawn at one and two years of age. Some of the girls in this study will receive GH from 12
 until 24 months of life, while others will not. Brain growth and development will be compared
 between those who have been treated with GH and those who have not. This is a pilot study in
 which the investigators will gather data to design a larger study that can answer these
 questions.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Diagnosis of Turner syndrome

 -  Less than the 50th percentile for length for the general female population

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Prior Growth Hormone (GH) therapy

 -  Diabetes

 -  Allergy to metacresol (a preservative in the GH liquid that is injected)

 -  Contraindications for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (such as metal in the body)

 -  Part of a Y chromosome in child's karyotype

 -  Parent/guardian is not willing for child to be randomized to be in the treatment group
 (receives Growth Hormone injections for one year) or the control group (receives no
 Growth Hormone during the study)

 -  Parent/guardian is not willing for child to have some of her developmental testing
 digitally recorded for scoring