RESPONSE TO GROWTH-HORMONE IN CHILDREN WITH CHONDRODYSPLASIA

Theoretic concerns exist that children with chondrodysplasia will not grow in response to growth hormone (GH) therapy because of an inabilit y of the abnormal growth cartilage to respond. Experience to date, how ever, suggests that there is an increase in growth velocity, especiall y during the first year of treatment, which may be beneficial, Growth has increased during the early phases of GH therapy in both patients w ith achondroplasia and patients with hypochondroplasia, Fourteen patie nts with achondroplasia in the National Cooperative Growth Study have been treated with an average dose of GH of 0.306 mg/kg per week for an average of 2.1 years and have gained an average of 0.3 SD in height, Twenty patients with hypochondroplasia in the National Cooperative Gro wth Study have been treated with an average dose of GH of 0.317 mg/kg per week for an average of 2.6 years and have gained an average of 0.7 SD in height. These data suggest that the abnormal growth cartilage i n patients with chondrodysplasia responds to GH therapy, The effect on final height cannot be predicted with the currently available data.