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Growth outcomes in individuals with idiopathic short stature treated with growth hormone therapy

Jovanna Dahlgren1

  • 1Göteborg Paediatric Growth Research Centre, Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden.

Hormone Research in Paediatrics
|September 14, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) treatment significantly improves long-term height outcomes for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). Benefits are comparable to those in GH-deficient children and maintained into adulthood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Growth Disorders

Background:

  • Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a condition where children are significantly shorter than average without a clear medical cause.
  • Evaluating long-term growth outcomes in children with ISS receiving growth hormone (GH) treatment is crucial for understanding treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize findings from recent studies on the long-term height outcomes of GH treatment in children with ISS.
  • To assess the magnitude and influencing factors of height gain in response to GH therapy for ISS.

Main Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted for randomized and nonrandomized studies over the past 10 years.
  • Included studies focused on GH treatment in prepubertal children with ISS up to adult height.
  • Six relevant publications were identified, with no classic meta-analyses.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment showed a dose-dependent response in height outcome for children with ISS.
  • Younger age and a greater height deficit at treatment initiation correlated with more substantial height gains (0.5–1.3 SDS).
  • Height gains were comparable to those in GH-deficient children and other non-GH-deficient syndromes, even after controlling for spontaneous growth.

Conclusions:

  • Children with ISS can achieve significant and sustained height improvement with GH treatment.
  • Treatment benefits are comparable to those observed in GH-deficient populations and maintained into adulthood.
  • Factors like age and initial height deficit influence the degree of height gain.

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