title: Once daily subcutaneous growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy accelerates growth in growth hormone-deficient children during the first year of therapy. Geref International Study Group.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of 1 yr of GH-releasing hormone [GHRH-(1-29)] therapy in GH-deficient children were determined. One hundred and ten previously untreated prepubertal GH-deficient children were treated for up to 1 yr in a multicenter, open label study with 30 micrograms/kg GHRH-(1-29)/day, sc, given at bedtime. Eighty-six of the 110 patients were eligible for efficacy analysis. The main outcome measures, monitored every 3-6 months, were linear growth enhancement (height velocity), bone age progression, and safety measures including clinical chemistry. The mean height velocity for the group increased from 4.1 +/- 0.9 cm/yr at baseline to 8.0 +/- 1.5 and 7.2 +/- 1.3 cm/yr after 6 and 12 months of therapy, respectively. At 6 months, 74% of the children were considered to have a good response to GHRH. The ratio of the change in bone age to height age was not significantly different from unity at 12 months (1.04 +/- 0.58; P = 0.63). No adverse changes in general biochemical or hormonal analyses were noted. No change in fasting glucose concentration or excessive generation of insulin-like growth factor I occurred, and overall GHRH was well tolerated. We conclude that GHRH administered as a once daily dose of 30 micrograms/kg GHRH.(1-29), s.c., was effective in increasing height velocity in GH-deficient children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thorner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rochiccioli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grunt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galazka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Landy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eengrand
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005544:Forecasting; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D017337:Sermorelin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017337:Sermorelin; D013006:Growth Hormone