Growth hormone increases final height in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: data from a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
GH treatment stimulates growth in short children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The extent to which this therapy increases final height is not known.


METHODS
Thirty-one growth-retarded children with systemic and polyarticular idiopathic arthritis were enrolled in this controlled study. After a mean observational time of 8.4 yr, final height was reached in 13 patients (seven females and six males) treated with GH for a mean of 6.7 yr in a dose of 0.33 mg/kg body weight per week. Eighteen patients (12 females and six males) served as an untreated control group.


RESULTS
Mean increment in height in the treatment group was 1.6 +/- 0.8 SD, whereas the patients of the control group lost 0.7 +/- 1.8 SD. Overall, mean final height in the treatment group was -1.6 SD and in the control group -3.4 SD. More GH-treated patients reached a final height within target height than untreated patients (11 of 13 vs. four of 18). Disease activity markers had a significant influence on height outcome. After adjustment for baseline and average disease activity, the difference between treatment and control group was still significant (mean 1.5 SD). Patients with a moderate overall disease activity profited most from GH treatment. No adverse events were noted throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that long-term GH therapy has a beneficial effect on growth and final height in the majority of growth retarded children with severe forms of JIA.
Bechtold
Susanne
S
University Children's Hospital, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Munich, Germany. Susanne.Bechtold@med.uni-muenchen.de
Ripperger
Peter
P
Dalla Pozza
Robert
R
Bonfig
Walter
W
Häfner
Renate
R
Michels
Hartmut
H
Schwarz
Hans Peter
HP
D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone