title: Growth hormone and treatment outcomes: expert review of current clinical practice.
abstract: Although there are guidelines for treatment of short stature, open questions regarding optimal management of growth hormone therapy still exist. Experts attending six international meetings agree that successful therapy results in the patient attaining mid-parental height, and relies on correct diagnosis and early intervention. Experts advocate patient followup every 3-6 months, and that growth and adherence should be monitored at each visit. Growth response is variable, and an accepted definition of good/poor response is lacking. Combined with patient education and regular patient follow-up, a definition of treatment response could lead to improved treatment outcomes. Few experts use prediction models in clinical practice, but all agree that pharmacogenetics might improve prediction, enable early therapy modulation, and promote growth. Poor growth is often due to low adherence. Guidance on optimal management of growth hormone therapy is required, with focus on early diagnosis, dosing, treatment monitoring, adherence, and motivation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Maternal and Child Research, University of Chile, Santa Rosa 1234, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassorla
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cianfarani
authors.forename: Fritz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haverkamp
authors.forename: Jose I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Labarta
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loche
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maghnie
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mericq
authors.forename: Agota
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muzsnai
authors.forename: Svante
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Norgren
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ojaniemi
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pribilincova
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quinteiro
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Savendahl
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spinola e Castro
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasteyger
mesh_terms: D005104:Expert Testimony; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone