title: Growth during and 2 years after stopping GH treatment in prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature.
abstract: Forty-six prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), 39 boys and 7 girls, with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 1.8 (SD) years, and mean bone age of 4.5 +/- 1.5 years were treated by human growth hormone (GH) 0.1 U/kg/day s.c. for 30.5 +/- 16.2 months (M +/- SD) (2-5 years range) and were followed for 1-2 years after stopping GH. The mean net gain in height at the end of treatment was 1.03 +/- 0.6 SDS and the bone age SDS was accelerated by 0.95 +/- 1.05. Despite a transitory "catch-down" in growth velocity after stopping GH administration, there was a mean height gain at the end of 2 years follow-up of 0.87 SDS. Children who started treatment before age 6.5 benefited more than older ones. In conclusion, the gain in height observed in children with ISS by GH treatment was maintained during 2 years of follow-up after interruption of treatment. Even if this benefit is transitory and not permanent, it may help short children to achieve self-confidence and raise their physical performance at the critical period of school entry.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tikvah, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Laron
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klinger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pertzelan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lilos
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone