title: Growth hormone treatment in short children born prematurely--data from KIGS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children born prematurely with growth failure might benefit from GH treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to evaluate the first year growth response to GH treatment in short children born prematurely and to identify predictors of the growth response.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 3215 prepubertal children born prematurely who were on GH treatment were selected from KIGS (The Pfizer International Growth Database), a large observational database. They were classified according to gestational age as preterm (PT; 33 to no more than 37 wk) and very preterm (VPT; <33 wk), and according to birth weight as appropriate for gestational age [AGA; between -2 and +2 sd score (SDS)] and small for gestational age (SGA; -2 SDS or below).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four groups were identified: PT AGA (n = 1928), VPT AGA (n = 629), PT SGA (n = 519), and VPT SGA (n = 139). GH treatment was started at a median age of 7.5, 7.2, 6.7, and 6.0 yr, respectively. After the first year of GH treatment, all four groups presented a significant increase in weight gain and height velocity, with a median increase in height SDS higher than 0.6. Using multiple stepwise regression analysis, 27% of the variation in height velocity could be explained by the GH dose, GH peak during provocative test, weight and age at GH start, adjusted parental height, and birth weight SDS. The first year growth response of the children born PT and SGA could be estimated by the SGA model published previously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short children born prematurely respond well to the first year of GH treatment. Long-term follow-up is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, 80060-900 Curitiba, Brazil. margabogus@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Margaret C S
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boguszewski
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Hartmut A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Wollmann
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilton
authors.forename: Jovanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dahlgren
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D047928:Premature Birth; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone