Restricted catch-up growth after cessation of steroid treatment in a growth-hormone-deficient child.
The phenomenon of catch-up growth has been known for a long time but its actual stimulus has remained unidentified. Involvement of growth hormone (GH) seems likely, but it is unknown whether normal GH secretion is an absolute prerequisite for catch-up growth. We present insight to this topic by describing a child with GH deficiency who showed a biphasic pattern of catch-up growth. During the first catch-up phase, she showed restricted catch-up growth in the absence of GH therapy, while she achieved nearly complete catch-up with GH therapy. Both periods of catch-up growth are compared separately with the response to GH therapy of age-matched, GH deficient patients with similar height deficit. This observation suggests that the first phase of catch-up growth in a child with severe growth retardation may be partially GH independent, while further catch-up requires normal GH levels.
Boersma
B
B
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Wit
J M
JM
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D011241:Prednisone