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Published on: January 7, 2016

Final height in children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency treated with recombinant human growth hormone: the

M Thomas1, G Massa, J P Bourguignon

  • 1The Belgian Study Group for Paediatric Endocrinology, and Department of Paediatrics, Universities of Liège, Belgium.

Hormone Research
|August 18, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment significantly improved height velocity in children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Most patients achieved normal height, reaching their genetic potential regardless of puberty status.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy
  • Childhood Growth Disorders

Background:

  • Idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (GHD) affects childhood growth.
  • Assessing growth response and final height in GHD is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in Belgian children with idiopathic GHD.
  • To compare growth outcomes based on spontaneous versus induced puberty.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 61 Belgian children (32 boys) with idiopathic GHD.
  • Administered daily subcutaneous rhGH injections (0.5-0.7 IU/kg/week).
  • Compared outcomes between patients with spontaneous (n=49) and induced (n=12) puberty.

Main Results:

  • rhGH treatment doubled height velocity in the first year.
  • 87% of patients achieved normalized height (final height -0.7 +/- 1.1 SDS).
  • Final height was comparable between spontaneous and induced puberty groups after mid-parental height adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Daily subcutaneous rhGH injections enable children with idiopathic GHD to reach their genetic growth potential.
  • Height normalization is achieved in the majority of patients, irrespective of puberty type.
  • rhGH therapy is effective in optimizing final height for children with GHD.
Abstract

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