Growth Hormone Therapy in Neurosecretory Dysfunction

Objective: Growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction (GH-NSD) is a rare cause of short stat- ure. Diagnosis is established by evaluating nocturnal growth hormone secretion in patients with normal growth hormone stimulation tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the first- and second-year treatment responses and final height in patients diagnosed with GH-NSD and treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study examined 500 patients treated with rhGH for short stature at a pediatric endocrinology clinic at Akdeniz University. Among them, 18 patients diagnosed with GH-NSD were included in the study. At the time of treatment initiation, param- eters such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), growth hormone (GH) stimulation test results, mean GH level during sleep, height standard deviation score (SDS), mid-parental height (MPH), and predicted adult height (PAH) were assessed. Treatment responses during the first and second years, as well as final height data, were analyzed. Results: GH therapy improved height velocity (HV) and overall height. The mean baseline height SDS of the patients was -3.13 ± 0.36. In the first year, Δheight SDS was 0.72 ± 0.44, and in the second year, Δheight SDS was 1.00 ± 0.70. Patients who reached their final height had a mean height SDS of -1.72 ± 0.83 and Δheight SDS of 1.46 ± 0.62. A correlation was found between the baseline height SDS, PAH SDS, MPH SDS, and first-year HV. Conclusion: Patients with GH-NSD treated with rhGH respond well to treatment, achieving genetic height potential.