[Critical analysis of treatments with growth hormones in children].
The history of growth hormone treatments in France has been marked by the tragedy of the epidemy of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease secondary to the contamination of preparations of extractive growth hormone, administered between 1983 and 1985. The substitution with biosynthetic growth hormone has suppressed this risk and allow the analysis of long term results. It is still too early to evaluate the efficacy in short stature secondary to chronic renal insufficiency and intrauterine growth retardation. In contrast, final heights are actually known in patients with growth hormone deficiency and Turner Syndrome. These adult heights, ranging around--2 SDS of the normal population, are satisfaisant but not sufficient, pointing out the necessity of an optimization of the treatments. Earlier onset of therapy, best adaptation and increase of the doses are some of the possibilities.
Chaussain
Jean-Louis
JL
Service d'Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, 82 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75674 Paris.
D002648:Child; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D013006:Growth Hormone