Long-term Growth Response to Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Lee, Byung Churl

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term growth response to growth hormone therapy in 18 children with naive growth hormone deficiency.
METHODS
The subjects of this study were aged 3-13.5 years and each patient continuously received GH (Eutropin ) 0.45-0.7IU/kg/week, intramuscularly or subcutaneously in 3-7 divided dose for up to 7 years. Standard auxologic assessment was carried out every 3 months in the first year after commencement of therapy and after that time assessment was 6 monthly. Bone age was assessed 3 monthly in the first year and 6 monthly after first year using Gleurich-Pyle method.
RESULTS
1) Height velocity significantly increased throughout all treatment years. The height increment increased markedly over first year of therapy, with a gradual decrease in the following years. 2) Height standard deviation score (SDS) for chronological age increased significantly throughout all treatment years. The Height SDS increment increased markedly over first year of therapy, with a gradual decrease in the following years. 3) The increment of bone age was slightly higher than the increment of chronological age for up to 5 years of therapy. 4) Antibody against hGH was observed in 1 cases (5.6%) in year 5 of therapy. 5) Unwanted serious adverse events were not observed throughout all treatment years in all patients.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that long-term growth hormone therapy in children with growth hormone deficiency is effective in improving the growth rates without unwanted side effect for up to 7 years.