Growth pattern and skeletal maturation following growth hormone therapy in growth hormone deficiency: factors influencing outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate pattern of growth and skeletal maturation following growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with GH deficiency (GHD) with special emphasis on factors influencing outcome.


METHODS
Records of ninety-six children (67 boys, 29 girls) with GHD treated with GH for 2.3 +/-2.1 years were reviewed.


RESULTS
Height SDS at the end of treatment was significantly higher than that at initiation (-3.4 +/- 1.7 versus -4.8 +/-1.6, P < 0.001); it was however lower than target height SDS (corrected height SDS (1.8 +/- 1.6, P < 0.001). The greatest increase in height SDS was observed during the first two years of treatment. Kaplan Meier survival analysis showed that 92%; of all subjects achieving end height SDS in the target height range did so within the first two years of treatment. Height SDS for bone age increased by 0.7 +/-0.9 during treatment (from -2.5 +/- 1.0 to -1.8 +/- 1.5, P < 0.001); the increase was however lower compared to that for height SDS for chronological age (P < 0.01) suggesting inadvertent skeletal maturation. End height SDS was influenced by duration of treatment and corrected height SDS on multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
GH treatment improves growth parameters in GHD; height however still remains compromised. Most of the catch-up growth occurs within two years of treatment emphasizing the need of optimal treatment during this period. Inadvertent skeletal maturation during treatment indicates a need for evaluating the role of agents effective in retarding skeletal maturation.
Bajpai
Anurag
A
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110 029, India.
Kabra
Madhulika
M
Gupta
Arun Kumar
AK
Menon
P S N
PS
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone