Related Experiment Videos
Should we treat children with idiopathic short stature?
C J Kelnar1, K Albertsson-Wikland, R L Hintz
1Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Insights
Growth hormone (GH) treatment for idiopathic short stature (ISS) in children lacks clear guidelines. An international workshop discussed ISS definition, ethics, economics, and clinical data to inform treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
- Childhood Short Stature
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) is standard for GH-deficient children.
- Treatment for idiopathic short stature (ISS) without clear GH deficiency is controversial.
- An international workshop convened to address these controversies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define idiopathic short stature (ISS).
- To review ethical and health-economic aspects of GH treatment for ISS.
- To evaluate clinical trial and surveillance data for ISS treatment.
Main Methods:
- International workshop discussion and consensus building.
- Review of existing clinical trial data.
- Analysis of surveillance studies on GH treatment outcomes.
- Exploration of prediction models for treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- Discussion covered ISS definition, ethical considerations, and cost-effectiveness.
- Clinical trial and surveillance data were presented and analyzed.
- The role of prediction models in guiding treatment decisions was explored.
Conclusions:
- The workshop highlighted the complexities surrounding GH treatment for ISS.
- Further research and standardized approaches are needed for ISS management.
- Evidence-based guidelines are crucial for informed treatment decisions in pediatric short stature.
Abstract:
The use of growth hormone (GH) to treat short children who are clearly GH-deficient is now well accepted. However, GH treatment of short children who have no currently recognizable abnormalities in their GH-insulin-like growth factor I axis remains controversial. Whether such children with so-called idiopathic short stature (ISS) should be treated with GH was the subject of an international workshop held in St.-Paul-de-Vence, France, in April 1999. This article summarizes the issues discussed at the workshop, including the definition of ISS, ethical and health-economic aspects of treatment, results from clinical trials and surveillance studies, and the use of prediction models in aiding treatment decisions.