Abstract：ObjectiveTo observe the change of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in children with growth hormone deficiency(GHD),and explore the effect of growth hormone deficiency on lipid metabolism.MethodsUsing nested case-control study method,59 patients who were diagnosed with short stature in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 2017 to October 2017 were selected.According to the growth hormone stimulation test results,all patients were divided into three groups：growth hormone deficiency group (GHmax<0.24nmol/L) (group A),partial growth hormone deficiency group (0.24nmol/L≤GHmax<0.47nmol/L) (group B),normal growth hormone group (GHmax≥0.47nmol/L) (group C).EAT thickness was tested by echocardiography,meanwhile general information and related results were collected, such as blood lipid, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) and bone age etc.ResultsEAT thickness was different in three groups （F=4.13,P＜0.05）,which was thicker in group A （2.70±0.87）compared with group B（2.20±0.81） and group C（2.00±0.47） (P<0.05), and there was no statistical difference between group B and group C (P>0.05).Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis showed that EAT thickness and triglyceride (TG) were positively correlated (β=2.0,P<0.05),when TG level was higher than 0.9mmol/L.ConclusionEAT thickness is increased in children with GHD and occurrs before abnormality lipid appears.
