Abstract
In 1988 a multicenter trial to evaluate the effect of treatment with rhGH (Humatrope, Lilly, Indianapolis) on height was started in 40 children (aged 3.8 - 14.6 yr) with NVSS. During the 1st year of treatment rhGH dose was 3 IU/m2/day 6 days/week. After the 1st year treatment was interrupted for a mean±SD period of 258±47 days. Thereafter treatment was restarted in 31 patients at a dose of 4.5 IU/m2/day 6 days/week. 30 patients have now received rhGH treatment for 3 years: 15 remained prepubertal and 15 entered puberty, Height expressed as SDS for chronological age at the start and after 3 yrs of treatment was resp. −2.6±0.6 and −1.9±0.5 SDS (P<0.005) in the prepubertal subjects, and −2.5±0.5 SDS and −1.9±0.6 SDS (p<0.005) in the pubertal subjects. Expressed as SDS for bone age height SDS did not change: −0.6±1.5 SDS at the start and −0.6±0.9 SDS after 3 yrs of treatment in the prepubertal subjects, and −1.6±1.3 SDS and −1.3±1.5 SDS in the pubertal subjects. The ratio delta bone age to delta chronological age was 1.1±0.2 in the prepubertal subjects and 1.2±0.4 in the pubertal subjects. These data suggest that rhGH treatment in NVSS children accelerates bone maturation and that the beneficial effect on final height remains dubious.
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Massa, G., Maes, M., Caju, M. et al. EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT ON HEIGHT IN CHILDREN WITH NORMAL VARIANT SHORT STATURE (NVSS): 3 YEAR RESULTS. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S56 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00318
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00318