Abstract
Effectiveness, economical and safety aspects of growth hormone (GH) therapy in growth promoting doses in patients with isolated GH deficiency after the attainment of near-final height. Is there a need to modify the criteria of therapy withdrawal?
- Department of Pediatrics, Diabetology Endocrinology and Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital – Research Institute in Lodz, Poland
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
- Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
Introduction
Apart from growth promotion, growth hormone (GH) has important metabolic effects. Patients with severe GH deficiency (GHD) should be treated with GH throughout life. Current criteria for growth promoting therapy withdrawal in Poland differ from the latest recommendations.
Aim of the study
To assess cost-effectiveness and safety of continuation of GH therapy in growth promoting doses in patients with isolated GHD after the attainment of near-final height (near-FH) and the incidence of persistent GHD after the therapy withdrawal.
Material and methods
160 children with isolated GHD (height < 3 centile, GH peak < 10.0 µg/l), who continued GH therapy for growth promotion after the attainment of near-FH (height velocity < 2.5 cm/year, bone age ≥ 16 years in boys, ≥ 14 years in girls). Clinical endpoints were: absolute height gain after near-FH, GH dose – cumulative and recalculated for additional 1.0 cm of height, number of injections, incidence of increased IGF-1 concentrations (IGF-1 SDS > 2.0) at near-FH and incidence of severe GHD in retesting (performed in 62 patients).
Results
Height gain after near-FH was 1.1 ±0.8 cm in boys and 1.0 ±0.8 in girls. Increase of height by 1.0 cm required on average 487 mg of GH (264 injections). IGF-1 concentrations at near-FH were increased in 39 patients, with no clinical side effects. None of the patients retested had GH peak < 3.0 µg/l, while 37 (60%) had GH peak > 10.0 µg/l.
Conclusions
There is no rationale to continue GH therapy in growth promoting doses in the patients with isolated GHD after fulfilling the criteria of near-FH.
Keywords
growth hormone deficiency, recombinant growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, treatment efficacy, final height
Integrated with
