ESPE Abstracts

Background: Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is one of the main endocrine disorders causing short stature. It may be due to isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) or associated with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). The aim of this study was evaluation of anthropometric factors before and after growth hormone (GH) therapy.

Patients and method: This is a historical cohort study. The diagnosis of GHD in children was assessed by GH peak <10 ng/ml in two provocative tests. From 746 patients with short stature 563 children and adolescents had GHD, 423 cases (164 females and 259 males) who only received GH were enrolled into the study. GH peak < 5 ng/mL was considered as complete deficiency and the peak ≥ 5 ng/mL to < 10 ng /mL as partial deficiency.

Results: There were 354 patients (83.7%) in IGHD and 69 cases (16.3%) in MPHD group. Duration of treatment was [Mean ± standard deviation (SD)] 3.5 ± 2.4 yr in IGHD and 7 ± 4.6 yr in MPHD. The basal height SDS and peak of GH in provocative tests in MPHD were significantly lower than IGHD (P<0.001). Height standard deviation score (SDS) after treatment, in patients with IGHD was -1.5±1.1 and in patients with MPHD was -1.8±1.7 that in both groups was significantly higher than baseline (P<0.001). The change of height SDS by treatment in complete IGHD subgroup (1.2±0.9) was significantly higher than partial IGHD (0.95±0.7) (P=0.015) and in complete MPHD subgroup (2.2±1.7) was also significantly higher than partial MPHD (0.33±0.9) (P=0.005). The lower basal age was accompanied by higher height SDS gain in both IGHD and MPHD. Final height SDS significantly had positive correlation with the difference between basal height SDS and midparental height (target height) SDS in both groups. Increase of basal height SDS after treatment significantly had negative correlation with peak of GH in diagnostic provocative tests. First year growth velocity in IGHD had positive correlation with height gain after treatment, but had no correlation in MPHD patients. Change of height SDS had no correlation with birth weight in both groups.