Effects of human growth hormone therapy on melanocytic naevi.

Bourguignon, J P; Piérard, G E; Ernould, C; Heinrichs, C; Craen, M; Rochiccioli, P; Arrese, J E; Franchimont, C · Lancet · 1993

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Melanocytic naevi may grow more rapidly during human growth hormone (hGH) therapy. With standardised skin photographs, the growth rate of the naevi was two-fold greater in 14 hypopituitary and 5 Turner's syndrome girls treated with hGH than in untreated patients or controls. HMB-45 immunoreactivity, a marker of stimulated melanocytes, was absent in naevi from 18 of 19 individuals not treated with hGH, including 5 Turner's syndrome patients studied 2-43 months after stopping hGH. In naevi from 39 hGH-treated patients, 22 showed unusual HMB-45 reactivity in dermal naevocytes. During administration of hGH, melanocytic naevi grow faster and there is reversible stimulation of naevocytes.

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