GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT IN TURNER SYNDROME - RESULTS OF A MULTICENTER STUDY IN JAPAN

Patients with Turner syndrome were treated with recombinant human grow th hormone (GH) for 3 years. Sixty-eight patients received GH, 0.5 IU/ kg/week, while 93 received GH, 1.0 IU/kg/week, by daily subcutaneous i njection. Both treatment groups showed a statistically significant inc rease in growth during treatment. However, the higher dose increased h eight velocity to a significantly greater extent during the first and second year of treatment. The projected adult height was exceeded by 5 2 of 71 patients over the age of 14 years. Plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 levels were elevated and no remarkable advances in bone age w ere observed. There were no other significant changes in physical or l aboratory parameters. No glucose intolerance was observed. These resul ts indicate that GH treatment is useful for accelerating growth veloci ty in patients with Turner syndrome. However, further study will be re quired to find the most appropriate dose.