Importance of Growth Factors and Bone Maturation Ratio in the Response to Growth Hormone Therapy

The aim was to identify the influence of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and bone age (BA)/chronological age (CA) ratio on the response to GH therapy after 1 and 2 years of treatment and upon reaching final height.

Longitudinal, retrospective, observational study of 139 patients treated for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. Variables examined during follow-up: (1) genetic background; (2) perinatal history; (3) anthropometry; (4) height velocity, BA, BA/CA and height prognosis; (5) analytical results (IGF-1, IGFBP-3). Final response variables: adult height (AH), AH with respect to target height, AH with respect to initial height prognosis, AH with respect to height at the start of treatment, and AH with respect to height at onset of puberty.

Lower pretreatment IGF-1 levels and a greater increase in IGF-1 at the end of treatment imply a better response (r = -0.405, P = .007 and r = 0.274, P = .014, respectively), as does a greater increase in IGFBP-3 after 2 years of treatment and at the end of treatment (r = 0.207, P = .035 and r = 0.259, P = .020, respectively). A lower BA/CA ratio pretreatment and at the onset of puberty results in a better response (r = -0.502, P = .000 and r = -0.548, P = .000, respectively), as does a lower increase in BA and BA/CA ratio after the 1 and 2 years of treatment (r = -0.337, P = .000 and r = -0.332, P = .000, respectively).

Low pretreatment IGF-1, a greater BA delay with respect to CA pretreatment and at the onset of puberty, a greater increase in IGFBP-3 after 2 years of treatment, and a lower increase in BA and BA/CA ratio after 1 and 2 years of treatment imply a better long-term response.