Experience of adolescence in patients treated with GH during childhood.
OBJECTIVE
To assess quality of life (QoL) and self-esteem among older adolescents and young adults treated with growth hormone (GH) during childhood for partial or complete GH deficiency or small for gestational age (SGA) status.


METHODS
Postal survey, including a general self-questionnaire and two QoL questionnaires (SF36 and QLS-H), conducted among patients treated with GH at the pediatric outpatient clinic of the Ambroise Pard University Hospital (Boulogne-Billancourt, France) during the last 20 years.


RESULTS
Thirty five patients (53.8%) returned their questionnaires completed. Social adjustment and quality of life of patients evaluated was similar to the general population despite lower-than-average final height. However a negative impact on sexuality and relationships with members of the opposite sex was suggested by the later mean ages of first romantic kiss and first sexual intercourse (15.5 years and 19.0 years old, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients treated with GH during childhood, psychological impacts may persist in late adolescence. These results indicate a need for improved management of GH-treated children at puberty.
Department of Pediatrics, Ambroise Paré University Hospital, Boulogne-Billancourt, France. chantal.stheneur@apr.aphp.fr
Chantal
C
Stheneur
Marc
M
Sznajder
Melissa
M
Taylor
Bertrand
B
Chevallier
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult
D019382:Human Growth Hormone