GROWTH-RESPONSE TO RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE IN SHORT PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE WITH OR WITHOUT DIALYSIS

The growth-promoting effect of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) i n children with chronic renal failure was assessed in eight clinical t rials. A total of 103 prepubertal children participated in the trials, 34 of whom were undergoing dialysis. The children were treated with G H, 30 IU/m(2)/week (approximately 1 IU/kg/week), for up to 2 years, an d various growth parameters, bone age and renal function were assessed before and during treatment. In all trials, the children showed clear catch-up growth and an improved height SDS after treatment with GH, a lthough the increase in height was less in dialysis patients than in t hose not receiving dialysis. GH maintained its growth-promoting effect during the second year of treatment; the effect, however, was less ma rked than during the first year of treatment. Bone age appeared to adv ance in parallel with chronological age. Median serum creatinine incre ased from 204 mu mol/l to 230 and 262 mu mol/l after 12 and 24 months of treatment, respectively, due to increased muscle mass and/or progre ssion of the underlying renal disease. The loss of estimated glomerula r filtration rate/year was not different before and during GH treatmen t.