Abstract
Single weekly injections of 2.5mg hGH have been given for greater than one year to 15 children with hypopitultarism who had been growing 2.8cm/yr(±1.2SD). Six were receiving T, two of whom also received low dose Cortisol (C). One C-treated and one who developed hypothyroidism (HT) failed to respond to hGH the first year. The other 13 pts grew 8.2cm(±1.5) the 1st yr and 4 of them grew 7.2cm(±1.9) during yr 2 on 2.5mg/wk. The two who failed to respond the 1st yr did respond to 2.5mg 2x/wk but T therapy in one and stopping C in the other with only 2.5mg/wk produced greater growth (3.5 - 8.2 - 11.8cm/yr). Three others had 2nd yr failure due to acquired HT (2cm/yr±.2) with marked improvement on T (9±.2). Two without cryptic HT responded poorly to 2.5/wk after 1 yr and better to 2.5mg twice weekly. Twenty-two full treatment yrs at 2.5mg/wk without HT or C suppression included 13 1st yr, 4 2nd yr and 5 3rd yr periods with average growth 8.6cm/yr(±1.6). This exceeds 1st yr rates for the U.S. Collaborative Study (7.0cm/yr) using 2mg 3x/wk or the Tanner series with 4x our dose (7.3cm/yr the 1st yr - p<.025). Four of 9 without HT at the outset developed resistance to hGH from acquired HT. Single weekly injections of 2.5mg hGH are adequate for growth in most cases and should be accompanied by routine T therapy and minimal C replacement.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arlan, L., Netzloff, M., Garnlca, A. et al. REPLACEMENT THERAPY WITH HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (hGH); CONSERVATION VIA LOW DOSAGE AND ROUTINE THYROID (T) REPLACEMENT. Pediatr Res 11, 431 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00372
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00372