ESPE Abstracts

Background: We recently described that 27.8% of patients treated with recombinant human GH (r-hGH) using the easypod had an adherence (AD) rate of <85.7% i.e. missing one r-GH dose per week. Overall AD of all investigated patients during the first 2 years of treatment was generally high (mean 90.2%).

Objective: To evaluate the importance of high AD rate of r-GH administration over the first 2 years of r-hGH treatment on growth velocity and increase of height-SDS in patients with GH deficiency (GHD) and small for gestational age (SGA).

Methods: Retrospective, observational, open-label, non-controlled, multi centre study in patients diagnosed as GHD or SGA. Patients were treated with r-hGH using the easypod injection device.

Results: 53 patients (36 GHD and 17 SGA), mean chronological age (CA) 10.7±3.7 years (mean±S.D.)(y) were treated with an average prescribed r-hGH dose of 32.9 mg/kg per day. (In consideration of the AD the real administered GH dose was 28.7±5.4 ng/kg per day. 40 patients 25 GHD and 15 SGA), mean CA 9.6±3.5 year had an AD of >85.7% and received an administered GH dose of 30.2±4.8 ng/kg per day. After 2 years of treatment these patients showed a GV of 8.2±1.8 cm/year and an increase of height-SDS of 0.99±0.69. 13 patients with an AD<87.5%, mean 14.2±1.4 year, received 23.9±4.0 ng/kg per day GH and had a GV of only 7.6±2.2 cm/year with an increase of height SDS of 0.76±0.66.

Conclusion: Easypod is an important device that allows to achieve an accurate recording of GH dose and adherence rate and maximize the impact of adherence on the outcome of GH treatment in GHD and SGA patients.