Is there a link between human growth hormone and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
Examining the link between human growth hormone and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
Challenge
Cadaveric-derived human growth hormone (HGH) was effective in treating growth failure. Between 1963-85, through the federal government’s National Hormone and Pituitary Program (NHPP), HGH was distributed to 250+ physicians.
In 1985, 3 people who received HGH therapy through the NHPP died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare neurogenerative disease. These cases prompted the federal government to terminate HGH distribution.
Since then, for the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, Westat has been conducting a surveillance study to identify the scope of the CJD problem in recipients of NHPP-provided hormone. Special attention was paid to whether cases started HGH before or after 1977, when a new laboratory purification step was added.
Solution
- The HGH recipients and their families were located and surveyed.
- Death certificates, medical records, and pathology specimens were reviewed for evidence of CJD.
The Results
- Through the efforts of this study and reports from other sources, 32 confirmed cases of CJD have been identified among NHPP recipients.
- No cases began treatment after 1977.
- Westat continues to analyze and report findings related to CJD and other illnesses.
