This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
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 and 1985, 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.
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.
Senior Expert Contact
Margaret Camarca
Senior Research Associate
-
Issue Brief
Young Children’s Consumption of 100% Fruit Juice by Racial-Ethnic Characteristics of Their MothersMarch 2023
Congress authorized the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as a pilot program in 1972 and made WIC permanent in 1974.…
-
Perspective
CDISC Conformance and Compliance: So Many Resources, So Little Time!February 2023
Implementing the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) standards required for data management, programming, documentation, and eCTD data submission can be challenging for many reasons…
-
Expert Interview
How Will the Marine Corps Integrate Men and Women at Recruit Training?January 2023
Marine Corps recruit training is every bit as intense as it looks. Each morning starts hours before sunrise with a chorus of screaming drill instructors…