EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM GROWTH-HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE 1-29 IN SIGNIFICANTLY SHORT CHILDREN

Seven children with significant idiopathic short stature (SISS) whose heights were significantly below the third percentile (SD score for he ight -2.5 to -3.5) and who had normal levels of growth hormone (GH) we re treated with growth hormone releasing hormone (GH-RH) in a dose of 30 mu g/kg/day. Therapy was discontinued if patients failed to increas e their rates of growth by more than 2.0 cm/year over their pre-therap y growth rate. Treatment was discontinued in two of the patients after 12 months but was continued in the other five for 24 months. These da ta demonstrate that some patients with SISS grow well during the first 2 years of treatment with GH-RH.