title: Different long-term response to growth hormone therapy in small- versus appropriate-for-gestational-age children with growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of birth weight on growth hormone (GH) therapy response in GH-deficient (GHD) children has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined the growth of 23 small-for-gestational-age GHD children (SGA-GHD, 11 females and 12 males), 26 appropriate-for-gestational-age GHD children (AGA-GHD, 11 females and 15 males) during the first 5 years of GH therapy and that of 22 non-GH-treated SGA children (12 females and 10 males).
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected height and height velocity measurements yearly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In AGA-GHD children, height was always greater than in the SGA groups and significantly increased from the fourth year of treatment. Height velocity was higher (SGA-GHD: 1.72 ± 0.30 standard deviation score, SDS, AGA-GHD: 2.67 ± 0.21 SDS; p = 0.039) in AGA-GHD children during the first year of treatment. The AGA-GHD group showed the highest percentage (52.4%) of subjects surpassing mid-parental height and the greatest height gain after 5 years of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that birth size is an important factor affecting the response to GH therapy in GHD children during the first 5 years of treatment. The paediatric endocrinologist should be aware of this factor when planning the management of GHD children born SGA.
authors: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Terapia Medica, Università di Pavia, Centro di Ricerca di Auxologia, Pavia, Italy.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Meazza
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Pagani
authors: Benedetta
authors: B
authors: Pietra
authors: Carmine
authors: C
authors: Tinelli
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Calcaterra
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Bozzola
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Bozzola
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone