Stimulant medication use and response to growth hormone therapy: an NCGS database analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Determine (1) frequency of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment and (2) growth responses in growth hormone (GH)-treated children who are receiving ADHD medication versus GH alone.


METHODS
Prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) or GH deficiency (IGHD) enrolled in Genentech's National Cooperative Growth Study. ADHD treatment was determined by documentation of psycho-stimulant medication use at enrollment.


RESULTS
ADHD medication use increased from 0.8% (7/850) in 1985 to 5.8% (752/12,113) in 2005. First-year GH treatment response for ADHD + IGHD versus IGHD: 8.5 +/- 2.0 vs. 9.4 +/- 2.6 cm/year, but when adjusted for age, sex, and enrollment body mass index, the difference is clinically insignificant (-0.4 cm/year). First-year growth was similar in all ISS: 8.1 +/- 1.9 versus 8.6 +/- 2.1 cm/year (ADHD + ISS vs. ISS, an adjusted -0.2-cm/year difference).


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing numbers of GH-treated children are taking ADHD medications and their growth responses during the first year of GH therapy are similar to those not taking ADHD medications.
Frindik
J Paul
JP
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. frindikpaul@uams.edu
Morales
Alba
A
Fowlkes
John
J
Kemp
Stephen
S
Thrailkill
Kathryn
K
Lippe
Barbara
B
Dana
Ken
K
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D019382:Human Growth Hormone