ESPE Abstracts

Background: GH therapy improves height outcome in children with GH deficiency (GHD). Height velocity (HV) is maximum in the first year of treatment. Early diagnosis and therapy initiation optimize growth outcomes.

Objective and hypotheses: Of this study was to evaluate growth during the first 2 years of GH treatment in 33 GHD children and evaluated the height velocity.

Method: The study enrolled 54 children (29 boys, and 25 girls) with GHD. All of them were treated with a mean dose of GH=0.035 mg/kg per day and followed for at least 2 years. We register the following parameters at baseline and every 6 months: – height – height SDS – weight – height velocity (HV). Bone age.

Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 10±3 years. The mean height SDS at diagnosis was: −3.2±1.2 DS and the mean weight SDS was: −2.5±0.4 DS. 73% of children with isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) and 27% of children with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). The mean height SDS improved by 0.6±0.2 DS after 2 years of traitement. HV is maximum in the first year of treatment (0.4±0.1 DS). Bone age improved by 1.7 years.

Conclusion: GH treatment significantly improves growth of GHD children, with a favorable safety profile. The maximum height velocity was observed in the first year of therapy; the second year of treatment resulted in a lower height velocity.