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Small for gestation and growth hormone therapy

Archana Dayal Arya1

  • 1Centre for Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India. adayal35@hotmail.com

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Most infants born small for gestational age (SGA) achieve normal height, but some remain short. Growth hormone (GH) therapy is an effective treatment for short stature in SGA children, normalizing adult height in most cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • 3-10% of neonates are born small for gestational age (SGA), often due to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
  • While most SGA infants experience catch-up growth, approximately 10% remain short, leading to potential psychosocial issues.
  • The underlying mechanisms for persistent short stature in SGA infants are not fully understood, but often involve alterations in the growth hormone-IGF-I axis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diagnostic and management criteria for short stature in SGA infants.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of growth hormone (GH) therapy for improving adult height in SGA children.
  • To understand the impact of GH therapy on normalizing height and addressing psychosocial concerns in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and clinical guidelines regarding SGA and short stature.
  • Analysis of data on growth hormone (GH) therapy outcomes in SGA children.
  • Assessment of safety profiles and monitoring recommendations for GH treatment.

Main Results:

  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy is FDA-approved for improving height in SGA children.
  • GH treatment promotes growth acceleration and height normalization during childhood.
  • Long-term GH therapy normalizes adult height above -2 SDS in 85% of SGA children, with 98% achieving their target height range.

Conclusions:

  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy is a safe and effective treatment for normalizing adult height in SGA children who do not achieve adequate growth.
  • Monitoring for potential side effects is crucial during GH therapy.
  • Improved diagnostic and management strategies are essential for addressing short stature in SGA populations.

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