Growth response and final height in growth hormone-deficient patients treated with biosynthetic growth hormone

Twenty-three patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) followed until their final heights (FH) were reported by retrospective review. Seven patients had spontaneous puberty (group 1) and sixteen required induction of puberty (group 2). Their heights prior to growth hormone (GH) therapy were -3.7 +/- 1.4 and -2.8 +/- 1.4 SDS in men and women respectively. The mean ages at initiation of GH therapy were 17.2 +/- 3.3 in men and 13.0 +/- 1.7 years in women, with a growth velocity < 4 cm/year and a mean bone age (BA) of 12.6 +/- 0.7 years (men) and 9.8 +/- 1.2 years (women). The dose of GH was 0.27-0.83 IU/kg/week, with a total duration of 2.5 +/- 1.0 years. Their consecutive annual mean growth velocities on GH therapy were: 10.6 cm/year, 8.0 cm/year, 6.1 cm/year, 5.1 cm/year and 4.6 cm/year respectively. They reached a mean final height of 167.1 +/- 5.3 cm (-0.4 +/- 1.0 SDS) in men and 157.9 +/- 3.5 cm (-0.1 +/- 0.7 SDS) in women, which is slightly taller than their target height. Demographic factors related to growth response and final heights were analyzed. We conclude that GH therapy is very effective in linear growth promotion. Their final height was correlated with initial height SDS, target height SDS, predicted adult height SDS according to the bone age at the start of GH therapy and height SDS at the onset of puberty.