Production of antibodies to biosynthetic human growth hormone in the dog
van Herpen, H.; Rijnberk, A.; Mol, J.A.
Veterinary Record 134(7): 171
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8160333 Document Number: 427258
Two 4-month-old German Shepherd dogs with congenital growth hormone deficiency and two 7-year-old Miniature Poodles with suspected acquired growth hormone deficiency were given 0.5 IU of human growth hormone (Norditropin) subcutaneously twice a week. None of the animals showed any improvement and in one puppy and one Poodle treatment had to be discontinued after about one month because they collapsed and developed pale mucous membranes shortly after the injections. In all 4 dogs, the growth hormone was bound to plasma proteins and the binding gradually increased during the treatment period and remained high for at least 4 months after the first injection. The binding was detectable in high dilutions suggesting that it was due to the presence of antibodies to human growth hormone. It is concluded that antibody formation precludes the use of biosynthetic human growth hormone in the treatment of canine growth hormone deficiency.