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Effectiveness of growth-promoting therapies. Comparison among growth hormone, clonidine, and levodopa
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
Insights
Growth hormone, clonidine, and levodopa were tested for their ability to stimulate growth in children. Growth hormone showed the most significant improvements in height velocity and overall growth metrics.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
- Pharmacological Growth Stimulation
Background:
- Short stature and slow growth in children are significant concerns.
- Various pharmacological agents are explored to enhance growth in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of growth hormone, clonidine, and levodopa in stimulating growth in short, slow-growing children.
- To evaluate the impact of these treatments on height velocity and growth metrics.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 30 short and slowly growing children.
- Children were assigned to receive growth hormone, clonidine, or levodopa for 6 months, with a control group.
- Growth parameters including height velocity, height velocity SD score, and height SD score were measured.
Main Results:
- Growth hormone significantly improved mean height velocity, height velocity SD score, and height SD score.
- Clonidine significantly increased mean height velocity and height velocity SD score.
- Levodopa showed a modest enhancement in the mean height velocity SD score.
- 90% of children on growth hormone experienced a height velocity increase >2 cm/y, compared to 20% on clonidine and 10% on levodopa.
Conclusions:
- Growth hormone demonstrated the most substantial positive impact on growth parameters in short, slow-growing children.
- Clonidine and levodopa showed some growth-stimulating effects, but less pronounced than growth hormone.
- Further research may elucidate optimal therapeutic strategies for pediatric growth disorders.
Abstract:
The ability of growth hormone, clonidine, and levodopa to stimulate growth was compared in short and slowly growing children randomly assigned to different treatment regimens for 6 months. There were 10 children in each group, and 10 additional subjects served as controls. Growth hormone improved mean height velocity, height velocity SD score, and height SD score. The mean height velocity and height velocity SD score were significantly increased by clonidine, while levodopa only enhanced the mean height velocity SD score of the treated children. Moreover, in nine patients (90%) receiving growth hormone, two (20%) receiving clonidine, and one (10%) receiving levodopa, the height velocity was raised by more than 2 cm/y. The increments in height velocity and height SD score were greatest in the growth hormone group. Clonidine induced an increase in height velocity significantly different from that in control children only. In the control group, there was a significant reduction of height SD score with time.