title: Prediction model for adult height of small for gestational age children at the start of growth hormone treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  GH treatment is approved for short children born small for gestational age (SGA). The optimal dose is not yet established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to develop a model for prediction of height at the onset of puberty and of adult height (AH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two GH studies were performed in short SGA children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 150 SGA children with height sd scores (SDS) less than -2, age 3 yr or older, no signs of catch-up growth, available height at the onset of puberty, and at least 1 yr of GH treatment before the onset of puberty were studied. In one study, patients were randomly assigned to either 0.033 or 0.067 mg/kg x d; in the other study all received 0.033 mg/kg x d. In 71 children, AH was reached.
  
  
  METHODS
  Height SDS at the onset of puberty and AH SDS were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Determinants positively related to height SDS at the onset of puberty were: height SDS at the start; target height SDS; and GH dose, whereas age at the start and female gender were negatively related. Positively related to AH SDS were: height SDS and chronological age--bone age at the start; target height SDS; and GH dose, whereas serum IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 SDS at the start was negatively related. There was a significant interaction between GH dose and IGFBP-3 SDS, indicating a smaller GH dose effect for higher levels of IGFBP-3. The final model explained 57% of the variance in height SDS at the onset of puberty and 41% of AH SDS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prediction model for height SDS at the onset of puberty and AH SDS of short SGA children treated with GH provides useful information about the expected long-term growth. Because GH dosage is one of the determinants, the model aids in determining the optimal GH dose for each child.
authors.affiliation: Dutch Growth Foundation, P.O. Box 23068, 3001 KB Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.deridder@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Maria A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Ridder
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stijnen
authors.forename: Anita C S
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hokken-Koelega
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I