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[Growth hormone treatment in small for gestational age children in Spain]

José Manuel Rial Rodríguez1, Antonio de Arriba Muñoz2, Jordi Bosch Muñoz3

  • 1Unidad de Endocrinología, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, España.

Anales De Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
|May 18, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant growth hormone treatment in Spain for children born small for gestational age shows adequate growth outcomes. Despite late treatment initiation, final height improvements were observed, though some patients had a poor initial response.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy
  • Clinical Practice Research

Background:

  • Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is widely used for children born small for gestational age (SGA) in Spain.
  • This study evaluates the real-world effectiveness of rhGH treatment in a large patient cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the outcomes of recombinant growth hormone treatment for patients born small for gestational age in routine clinical practice in Spain.
  • To assess growth response and final height achieved in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from assessment boards authorizing growth hormone treatments in public hospitals across six Spanish regions.
  • Analysis of 974 patients meeting European Medicines Agency criteria for SGA treatment.

Main Results:

  • Patients were smaller in length than weight at birth, with a median target height below -1 SD; 23% were born prematurely.
  • Treatment started at a mean age of 7.2 years, with initial height at -3.1 SD.
  • Significant growth was observed: 0.7 SD in the first year and 1.2 SD after two years, with final height reaching -1.4 SD.

Conclusions:

  • Outcomes align with existing Spanish and international studies, reflecting current clinical practice.
  • Adequate short-term and final height growth is achieved despite delayed treatment initiation.
  • A notable proportion (24%) of patients exhibit a poor response within the first year of treatment.
Abstract

Keywords:
Growth hormoneHormona de crecimientoHospitales públicosPequeño para la edad gestacionalPublic hospitalsRespuesta terapéuticaSmall for gestational ageTreatment outcome

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