Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in therapeutic regimen in GH deficient (GHD) children over the years have resulted in improvement of FH and satisfaction of the patients. Until 1983 4 IU twice a week i.m. was given, until 1986 2 IU 4 times per week s.c., and since then 12-14 IU/m2 per week in 6-7 injections, s.c.
A questionnaire was sent to all 661 GHD-patients treated since 1967, who were now older than 18 years and had discontinued GH therapy. To assess the validity of the reported FH we measured FH in 19 patients. The correlation between reported and measured FH was very high (r=0.995, p<0.001) with 65% of the patients reporting a FH within 1 cm of that of measured FH.
At present the results of 157 (M:F 112:45) patients have been analysed. Mean FH was 167.3 cm (−2.19 SDS) for males and 154.5 cm (−2.22 SDS) for females. There was no correlation between age at start of therapy and FH (r=0.04). For males there was a significant correlation between calendar year of start of GH and FH (r= + 0.43, p<0.001). For each year that the treatment started later, FH was increased by 0.76 cm. For females there was no such correlation (r=0.02). Another factor which independently correlated with FH was, both for males and females, the coexistence of another pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). After correction for year of start of treatment, males with MPHD were 4.3 cm taller than males with isolated GHD. Females with MPHD were 5.4 cm taller than females with IGHD.
89.5% of the patients reported to be (very) satisfied with the result of the treatment. Satisfaction was significantly positively correlated with both FH and duration of treatment. In conclusion, the FH is unsatisfactory and in the same range as found in other countries. Over the years FH has ameliorated only in male patients. In contrast to the low average FH, most patients appeared satisfied with the result.
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Rikken, B., Wit, J. FINAL HEIGHT (FH) AND SATISFACTION IN GH DEFICIENT ADULTS WHO WERE TREATED WITH GH IN CHILDHOOD. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S44 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00248
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00248