title: Efficacy of long-term growth hormone therapy in short non-growth hormone-deficient children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, several studies have been published showing different responses to growth hormone (GH) treatment in idiopathic short stature children. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether non-growth-hormone-deficient (non-GHD) short children could benefit from long-term GH treatment as GHD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 22 prepubertal children and 22 age- and sex-matched GHD patients, with comparable height, body mass index (BMI), bone age, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) circulating levels. The patients were treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) and followed until they reach adult height.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During GH treatment, the two groups grew in parallel, reaching the same final height-standard deviation score (SDS) and the same height gain. On the contrary, we found significantly lower IGF-I serum concentrations in non-GHD patients than in GHD ones, at the end of therapy (p=0.0055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, the response to GH treatment in short non-GHD patients proved to be similar to that in GHD ones. However, a careful selection of short non-GHD children to be treated with GH would better justify the cost of long-term GH therapy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schena
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paganelli
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buzi
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I