Auxological characteristics of pediatric patients with permanent or transient isolated growth hormone deficiency. Response to treatment and final height

• Published in: Endocrinología, diabetes y nutrición. Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 368 - 375
• Main Authors: Villafuerte, Beatriz, Barrio, Raquel, Martín-Frías, María, Alonso, Milagros, Roldán, Belén
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Adult height; Déficit permanente de GH; Déficit transitorio de GH; Endocrinology and Metabolism; GH permanent deficiency; Growth hormone; Growth velocity; Hormona del crecimiento; Talla adulta; Transient GH deficiency; Velocidad de crecimiento; GH permanent deficiency; Déficit transitorio de GH; Adult height; Talla adulta; Transient GH deficiency; Velocidad de crecimiento; Hormona del crecimiento; Growth velocity; Growth hormone; Déficit permanente de GH
• ISSN: 2530-0180; 2530-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.endien.2018.11.015

AbstractIntroductionTreatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been shown to improve adult height in pediatric patients with GH deficiency (GHD). However, reassessment of patients after they reach their final height shows some of them have permanent GH deficiency (PGHD), while others had a transient deficiency (TGHD). The study objective was to assess, in a cohort of pediatric patients with GHD, potential differences in response to treatment with rhGH depending on whether deficiency is permanent or transient.Materials and methodsA retrospective study of 89 patients with GHD, who were monitored from diagnosis to adult height. Clinical, auxological, radiographic and laboratory variables were collected at diagnosis, after the first year of treatment, and when they had reached their adult height.ResultsPGHD was found in 28% of patients. Initial height was −2.46 ± 0.86 SD and −2.24 ± 0.68 SD in subjects with PGHD and TGHD respectively. Peak GH level at diagnosis was 4.26 ± 2.78 and 6.20 ± 2.01 ng/ml ( p< 0.01) in the PGHD and TGHD groups respectively. After the first year of treatment, increase in growth velocity was greater in the PGHD group: 4.33 ± 3.53 SD vs. 2.95 ± 2.54 SD in the PGHD group ( p=0.043). Final height was −0.81 ± 0.87 SD in the PGHD and −0.95 ± 0.83 SD in the TGHD group ( p= 0.47). ConclusionsPatients with PGHD had a better short- and long-term response to rhGH. They also showed lower GH levels in stimulation tests at diagnosis, as previously reported.