title: Long-term mortality and causes of death in isolated GHD, ISS, and SGA patients treated with recombinant growth hormone during childhood in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Sweden: preliminary report of 3 countries participating in the EU SAGhE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term mortality in adults treated with recombinant GH during childhood has been poorly investigated. Recently released data from the French part of the European Union Safety and Appropriateness of GH treatments in Europe (EU SAGhE) study have raised concerns on the long-term safety of GH treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report preliminary data on long-term vital status and causes of death in patients with isolated GH deficiency or idiopathic short stature or born small for gestational age treated with GH during childhood, in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved from national registries of GH-treated patients and vital status from National Population Registries. Causes of death were retrieved from a National Cause of Death Register (Sweden), Federal and Regional Death Registries (Belgium), or individual patient records (The Netherlands).
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients diagnosed with isolated GH deficiency or idiopathic short stature or born small for gestational age started on recombinant GH during childhood from 1985-1997 and who had attained 18 yr of age by the end of 2010 were included. Vital status was available for approximately 98% of these 2,543 patients, corresponding to 46,556 person-years of observation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vital status, causes of death, age at death, year of death, duration of GH treatment, and mean GH dose during treatment were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 21 deaths identified, 12 were due to accidents, four were suicides, and one patient each died from pneumonia, endocrine dysfunction, primary cardiomyopathy, deficiency of humoral immunity, and coagulation defect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these cohorts, the majority of deaths (76%) were caused by accidents or suicides. Importantly, none of the patients died from cancer or from a cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Karolinska University Hospital Q2:08, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. lars.savendahl@ki.se
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sävendahl
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albertsson-Wikland
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borgström
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carel
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henrard
authors.forename: Niko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Speybroeck
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zandwijken
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hokken-Koelega
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone