title: The Effect of Recombinant Growth Hormone Treatment in Children with Idiopathic Short Stature and Low Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Idiopathic short stature (ISS) constitutes a heterogeneous group of short stature which is not associated with an endocrine or other identifiable cause. Some ISS patients may have varying degrees of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency. Recombinant growth hormone (rGH) treatment has been used by some authors with variable results. Reports on long-term rGH treatment are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 21 slowly growing, non-GH-deficient ISS children who received rGH treatment for 3.62±0.92 years were evaluated at the end of a 5.42±1.67-year follow-up period. The study group included patients with low IGF-1 levels who also responded well to an IGF generation test. The patients were divided into two groups as good responders [height increment >1 standard deviation (SD)] and poor responders (height increment <1 SD) at the end of the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The height of the patients improved from -3.16±0.46 SD score (SDS) to -1.9±0.66 SDS. At the end of the follow-up period, mean height SDS was -1.72. Eleven of the patients showed a good response to treatment. Clinical parameters were essentially similar in the good responders and the poor responders groups. A female preponderance was noted in the good responders group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rGH treatment can safely be used in ISS children. Long-term GH treatment will ameliorate the height deficit and almost 40% of patients may reach their target height.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Ankara, Turkey Phone: +90 312 319 14 40 E-mail: zeynepsklr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Şıklar
authors.forename: Pınar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kocaay
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çamtosun
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: İsakoca
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hacıhamdioğlu
authors.forename: Şenay
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: Savaş Erdeve
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berberoğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone