Final height and pubertal development in children with growth hormone deficiency after long-term treatment

Auxological data and final height were analysed in 42 patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), 10 had isolated GHD (group 1), 23 had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (group 2) and 9 had organic GHD (group 3). Patients received growth hormone (GH) for a mean of 6.5 +/- 2.6 (group 1), 8.0 +/- 2.9 (group 2) and 2.9 +/- 1.5 years (group 3). Most patients were treated with pituitary GH (pGH), 11 IU/m2/week (mean) in 3 divided doses, which was not changed during puberty. Six patients, treated with daily injections of recombinant GH, showed a significantly better height velocity than those treated with pGH (2.1 vs. -0.3 SDS), though the mean dose was identical (p = 0.03). Final heights for boys and girls were -2.8 and -3.3 SDS (group 1), -1.9 and -1.6 SDS (group 2), and -2.9 and -3.2 SDS (group 3). Only 20% of group 1, 70% of group 2 and 22% of group 3 reached final heights within target limits. Final height was positively correlated with height at onset of puberty, but there was no association with the timing or magnitude of pubertal growth.