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Growth hormone therapy for 3 years: the OZGROW experience
C T Cowell1, S Dietsch, P Greenacre
1The Robert Vines Research Growth Centre, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|April 1, 1996
Summary
This study tracked growth hormone (GH) therapy in Australian children for 3 years. GH therapy showed short-term growth benefits, particularly for growth hormone deficient (GHD) children, but long-term outcomes require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Therapy
- Childhood Growth Disorders
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) affects childhood growth.
- Understanding the efficacy of GH therapy in diverse pediatric populations is crucial.
- Australian guidelines have focused on very short children for GH treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the 3-year growth response in Australian children receiving GH therapy.
- To compare growth outcomes between children with and without GHD.
- To analyze the impact of GH therapy on height standard deviation score and growth velocity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 898 children receiving GH therapy for ≥3 years from the OZGROW database.
- Patients were categorized by diagnosis, including GHD and non-GHD.
- Growth response assessed via height standard deviation score, estimated mature height, growth velocity, and bone age.
Main Results:
- GH therapy improved growth velocity in the first year (7.7-9.4cm/year), with an attenuated response in subsequent years.
- Children with GHD and lower peak GH levels (<10 mU/L) showed the greatest improvement in height and height SDS.
- Growth response in GHD children with higher peak GH levels (10-20 mU/L) was similar to non-GHD children.
Conclusions:
- GH therapy demonstrates short-term growth benefits in a large cohort of Australian children, including those without GHD.
- The study highlights that Australian GH guidelines target very short children.
- Long-term benefits of GH therapy in non-GHD children require further evaluation until final adult height is reached.