title: Which children should have growth hormone therapy?
abstract: Existing criteria for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency do not identify all children who can be made to grow faster with GH. There is a spectrum of GH secretion in short slowly growing normal children and in some cases the secretion may be inadequate to promote optimum growth in height. A diagnostic/therapeutic trial of GH therapy, with auxological monitoring, may be the only means of identifying some patients who will benefit. Assessment of the place for GH therapy in the treatment of short stature requires special knowledge of childhood diseases, growth, and endocrinology.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Milner
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000528:radiation effects; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone