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Determinants of Final Height in Patients Born Small for Gestational Age Treated with Recombinant Growth Hormone

Elodie Adler1,2, Anne-Sophie Lambert1, Claire Bouvattier1

  • 1AP-HP, Bicêtre Paris Saclay Hospital, DMU SEA, Endocrinology and Diabetes for Children, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.

Hormone Research in Paediatrics
|June 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) effectively increases final height in children born small for gestational age (SGA). Key predictive factors for treatment success include the cause of SGA, puberty onset, and initial growth metrics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Therapy
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Approximately 8% of children born small for gestational age (SGA) do not achieve normal adult height.
  • Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is a proven treatment for increasing final height in SGA children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors that predict final height in children born SGA treated with rhGH.
  • To understand the variables influencing growth outcomes in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 252 patients born SGA treated with rhGH for over 12 months.
  • Data collection included birth parameters, rhGH treatment details, and final height outcomes.
  • Multivariate analysis was used to identify predictive factors.

Main Results:

  • rhGH treatment increased height in SGA children from -2.2 to -1.5 SD over 4.6 years.
  • Eight factors predicted 46% of final height variance, including SGA cause, GnRH analog therapy, birth length, initial height, IGF-1 levels, first-year growth velocity, and puberty onset.
  • Significant predictors included cause of SGA (p < 0.0001) and age/height at puberty onset (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

  • Growth hormone therapy is confirmed to increase final height in short SGA children.
  • Several factors are associated with a better response to growth hormone treatment in SGA patients.
  • Identifying these predictors can help optimize treatment strategies for improved growth outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Final heightGonadotropin-releasing hormone analogGrowth hormoneIntrauterine growth retardationSmall for gestational age

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