Growth hormone (GH) dosing during catch-up growth guided by individual responsiveness decreases growth response variability in prepubertal children with GH deficiency or idiopathic short stature.
BACKGROUND
Weight-based GH dosing results in a wide variation in growth response in children with GH deficiency (GHD) or idiopathic short stature (ISS).


OBJECTIVE
The hypothesis tested was whether individualized GH doses, based on variation in GH responsiveness estimated by a prediction model, reduced variability in growth response around a set height target compared with a standardized weight-based dose.


METHODS
A total of 153 short prepubertal children diagnosed with isolated GHD or ISS (n = 43) and at least 1 SD score (SDS) below midparental height SDS (MPH(SDS)) were included in this 2-yr multicenter study.


METHODS
The children were randomized to either a standard (43 microg/kg.d) or individualized (17-100 microg/kg.d) GH dose.


METHODS
We measured the deviation of height(SDS) from individual MPH(SDS) (diffMPH(SDS)). The primary endpoint was the difference in the range of diffMPH(SDS) between the two groups.


RESULTS
The diffMPH(SDS) range was reduced by 32% in the individualized-dose group relative to the standard-dose group (P < 0.003), whereas the mean diffMPH(SDS) was equal: -0.42 +/- 0.46 and -0.48 +/- 0.67, respectively. Gain in height(SDS) 0-2 yr was equal for the GH-deficient and ISS groups: 1.31 +/- 0.47 and 1.36 +/- 0.47, respectively, when ISS was classified on the basis of maximum GH peak on the arginine-insulin tolerance test or 24-h profile.


CONCLUSIONS
Individualized GH doses during catch-up growth significantly reduce the proportion of unexpectedly good and poor responders around a predefined individual growth target and result in equal growth responses in children with GHD and ISS.
Kriström
Berit
B
Göteborg Pediatric Growth Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Science, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
Aronson
A Stefan
AS
Dahlgren
Jovanna
J
Gustafsson
Jan
J
Halldin
Maria
M
Ivarsson
Sten A
SA
Nilsson
Nils-Osten
NO
Svensson
Johan
J
Tuvemo
Torsten
T
Albertsson-Wikland
Kerstin
K
D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000032:analysis; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011153:Population; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D019382:Human Growth Hormone