Bone mineral density in prepubertal children with beta-thalassemia: correlation with growth and hormonal data.

What Was Tested

This clinical trial looks at Glucagon and Clonidine.

Patients with beta-thalassemia major (beta-thalassemia) frequently have bone disorders of multifactorial etiology.

The researchers attempted to analyze the relationship between the bone mineral density ([BMD] measured by dual-photon absorptiometry) and auxanologic parameters, degree of siderosis, function of the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) axis, calcium-phosphate balance, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and cytokines (interleukin-1beta [IL-1] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) in 30 prepubertal children with beta-thalassemia major and 15 age-matched children with constitutional short stature (CSS), who have normal glucose tolerance and thyroid function.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 30 children were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as children and teenagers, both men and women.

What Was Measured

The researchers attempted to analyze the relationship between the bone mineral density ([BMD] measured by dual-photon absorptiometry) and auxanologic parameters, degree of siderosis, function of the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) axis, calcium-phosphate balance, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and cytokines (interleukin-1beta [IL-1] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) in 30 prepubertal children with beta-thalassemia major and 15 age-matched children with constitutional short stature (CSS), who have normal glucose tolerance and thyroid function.

The subject headings attached to it are Absorptiometry, Photon, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Age Factors, Alkaline Phosphatase, Anthropometry, Antihypertensive Agents and Body Height.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a clinical trial of Glucagon and Clonidine in 30 children.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 1998 (Metabolism: clinical and experimental), a journal based in United States.

More context: the related Glucagon library page, all human trials.