title: Growth hormone treatment of adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) during the transition period: results of a survey among adult and paediatric endocrinologists from Italy. Endorsed by SIEDP/ISPED, AME, SIE, SIMA.
abstract: Treatment of adolescents with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) during the transition period is a controversial issue. This paper is a contribution from the Italian community of paediatric and adult endocrinologists surveyed in a Delphi panel. The Delphi method is a structured communication technique, originally developed as a systematic, interactive forecasting method that relies on a panel of experts. The experts answer questionnaires in two or more rounds. There was substantial agreement on the definition of the problems associated with the diagnosis and treatment of adolescents with GHD in the transition period, as well as on the identification of the controversial issues which need further studies. There is general consensus on the need of re-testing all isolated idiopathic GHD after at least 30-day withdrawn from treatment, while in patients with multiple pituitary deficiency and low IGF-I levels there is generally no need to re-test. In patients with permanent or confirmed GHD, a starting low rhGH dose (0.01-0.03 mg per day) to be adjusted according to IGF-I concentrations is also widely accepted. For those continuing treatment, the optimal therapeutic schedule to obtain full somatic maturation, normalization of body composition and bone density, cardiovascular function and Quality of Life, need to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Diabetology, Metabolic and Endocrinologic diseases, "Maggiore della Carità" Hospital, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aimaretti
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Attanasio
authors.affiliation: Endocrinological Unit of Clinic-Sperimental Medicine and Surgery Department, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cannavò
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Pediatric Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology UOC, General Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castello
authors.affiliation: "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Somma
authors.affiliation: UO of Endocrinology, Ospedale Villa Sofia-Cervello, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Clinic, University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iughetti
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Service, Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loche
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Genova Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Children's Hospital Giannina Gaslini, IRCCS, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maghnie
authors.affiliation: Pediatric UO, Programme of Endocrinology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saggese
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.affiliation: II Faculty of Medicine, "La Sapienza", University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: Pediatric UO, Programme of Endocrinology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S.Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zucchini
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, P.za Sant'Onofrio n. 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. marco.cappa@opbg.net.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone