A randomised study of two doses of biosynthetic human growth hormone on final height of pubertal children with growth hormone deficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of different doses of r-hGH therapy during puberty in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial of different doses of r-hGH therapy administered during puberty in 49 children with GHD. The patients were allocated randomly using a random number table to one of two groups: group 1 (15 IU/m(2)/week) or group 2 (30 IU/m(2)/week). Patients were included if they had received r-hGH daily at a dose of 15 IU/m(2)/week (0.7 mg/m(2)/day) for at least 1 year before randomization.


RESULTS
Height increase standard deviation scores (SDS) were similar between the two groups (group 1: 1.1; group 2: 1.2; p = 0.81).


CONCLUSIONS
A higher dose of r-hGH administered during puberty does not appear to have a significant effect on final height of children with GH deficiency. Altering pubertal tempo or intensifying prepubertal r-hGH therapy may be a more promising approach to improving final height in children with GH deficiency.
Coelho
R
R
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, and University College Hospital, London, UK.
Brook
C G D
CG
Preece
M A
MA
Stanhope
R G
RG
Dattani
M T
MT
Hindmarsh
P C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone