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Effects of growth hormone treatment on growth in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

D Simon1, S Bechtold

  • 1Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris FR-75019, France. dominique.simon@rdb.aphp.fr

Hormone Research
|November 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy improves final height in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). GH treatment helps children reach their target height, overcoming growth deficiency caused by JIA.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Rheumatology
  • Growth Disorders

Background:

  • Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) often experience growth deficiency.
  • Exogenous growth hormone (GH) has been investigated to address this growth deficit.
  • Previous studies indicated positive effects of GH on final height in JIA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the efficacy of GH replacement therapy in children with JIA.
  • To identify factors influencing the statural growth response to GH therapy.
  • To assess the impact of GH on achieving target height in JIA.

Main Methods:

  • Review of therapeutic trials evaluating GH in JIA.
  • Analysis of studies comparing GH-treated JIA patients with untreated controls.
  • Examination of factors limiting GH efficacy, such as inflammation and disease duration.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment significantly increased the proportion of JIA patients achieving their target final height (84% with GH vs. 22% without).
  • Factors like severe inflammation, early statural deficiency, prolonged disease, and delayed puberty can impede GH therapy effectiveness.
  • GH therapy can reduce the statural deficit common in active JIA.

Conclusions:

  • GH therapy is effective in decreasing the statural deficit in children with active JIA.
  • GH treatment helps patients achieve an adult height closer to their genetically determined target height.
Abstract

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