[Therapy of pituitary dwarfism with recombinant human growth hormone. A multicenter study]

During the period from 1982 to 1985, biosynthetic growth hormone (methionyl-hGH) was administered to 55 children with pituitary growth deficiency, 49 with idiopathic, six with other forms of the disorder. Preparations with a relatively high content of Escherichia coli polypeptides (ECP) were given to 32 children (group I), those with a markedly reduced ECP content to 12 (group II), while 11 children received almost ECP-free preparations (group III). The treatment achieved an intensive rise of growth acceleration in all three groups. At the same time, somatomedin C, biological somatomedin activity and alkaline phosphatase rose steeply, reaching a maximum after six months and remaining at high concentrations even thereafter. High antibody titres against ECP and hGH (with high binding capacity) were demonstrated in group I children, significantly lower titres with little binding capacity in those of group II, while most of those in group III had no measurable antibodies. Even in high concentrations the antibodies did not have any inhibiting effect on growth. No positive correlation between antibody titre and growth velocity was demonstrable. An exception was a boy with an allergy in group I, who had a maximal antibody titre and, at the same time, a high serum concentration of IgE. He had marked delay in growth which, however, quickly became normal on administration of extractive hGH.