Final height in Swedish children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency enrolled in KIGS treated optimally with

Otto Westphal1, Anders Lindberg,

  • 1Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden. otto.westphal@vgregion.se

Insights

Children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) treated with human recombinant growth hormone (GH) achieved normal final height within their genetic potential. Some patients experienced disproportionality, but overall outcomes were positive.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Growth disorders
  • Hormone replacement therapy

Background:

  • Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) affects children's final height.
  • Human recombinant growth hormone (GH) is a standard treatment.
  • Understanding treatment outcomes is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the final height achieved by children with GHD treated with GH.
  • To analyze height outcomes based on GHD severity and patient demographics.
  • To determine if GH therapy allows children to reach their genetic height potential.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 401 Swedish children with idiopathic GHD treated with GH.
  • Data collected from the KIGS database (1987-2006).
  • Analysis of height at entry, puberty onset, and near final height, grouped by sex, age, and GHD severity.

Main Results:

  • Mean final height, corrected for mid-parental height, was within the normal Swedish range for all groups.
  • Patients with severe GHD achieved final heights similar to the normal Swedish population.
  • Approximately 16% of patients exhibited disproportionality (short legs), correlating with parental short stature.

Conclusions:

  • GH replacement therapy enables children with idiopathic GHD to reach a final height within the normal range.
  • Treatment allows children to achieve their genetically determined height potential.
  • While most achieve normal height, a subset may show disproportionality, indicating the need for further investigation.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects01:16

Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects

Insulin-replacement therapy usually includes both long-acting insulin (basal) and short-acting insulin (to cater to postprandial needs). In a diverse group of type 1 diabetes patients, the average daily insulin dose is typically 0.5-0.7 units/kg body weight. However, obese patients and pubertal adolescents may need more due to insulin resistance.
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy01:26

Cellular Adaptation II: Hypertrophy

Hypertrophy is the increase in the size of individual cells, resulting in the enlargement of a tissue or organ. Unlike hyperplasia, which involves an increase in cell number, hypertrophy is characterized by an increase in cell volume. This process often occurs in response to higher functional demand or hormonal stimulation, leading to the production of more structural proteins and organelles, thereby enhancing the cells' work capacity.There are two primary types of hypertrophy: physiological...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...