3-YEAR DATA FROM A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE IN THE TREATMENT OF SHORT STATURE IN YOUNG-CHILDREN WITH INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION
A. Fjellestadpaulsen et al., 3-YEAR DATA FROM A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE IN THE TREATMENT OF SHORT STATURE IN YOUNG-CHILDREN WITH INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION, Acta paediatrica, 87(5), 1998, pp. 511-517
Growth acceleration and bone maturation were studied for 3 y in 69 chi
ldren with severe short stature and a history of intrauterine growth r
etardation (IUGR), to determine the effect of treatment with recombina
nt human growth hormone (r-hGH). The patients were enrolled in an open
, multicentre trial and were randomly allocated to either the treated
group (Group I)or the control group (Group 2). The children in Group 1
were treated daily with 0.2 IU/kg/body weight (0.067 mg/kg) s.c., dur
ing 3 y and the children in Group 2 started the study with a 1-y obser
vation period followed by a 3-y treatment period. At birth, their mean
weight standard deviation score (SDS) was -2.5 and their mean length
SDS -3.5. At baseline, the patients were prepubertal, non-GH deficient
, with no known dysmorphic features. Mean age was 4.5 y, bone age was
3.3 y, height SDS was -3.4, height velocity (HV) SDS was -1.6, and bod
y mass index SDS was -1.4. After I y of treatment, linear HV in Group
1 increased in comparison with the pre-treatment period (from 5.7 +/-
2.0 to 10.1 +/- 1.7 cm/y; p < 0.001) and with the first year of observ
ation in Group 2 (p < 0.001). Increased KV was sustained during the se
cond and third year of treatment and was significantly higher than at
baseline. A similar growth pattern was seen during the 3 y of CH treat
ment in Group 2. Mean height SDS for chronological age increased by 2.
0 +/- 0.7 in the two groups after 3 y of treatment. HV after 1 y of tr
eatment was negatively correlated with growth velocity at baseline. Bo
ne age remained retarded but increased with a mean of almost 4 y after
3 y of treatment in both groups. Even at a dose that is three times t
he replacement dose treatment with r-hGH was well tolerated. From thes
e results, we conclude that r-hGH treatment over 3 y can induce sustai
ned catch-up growth in young children with severe shea stature and a h
istory of IUGR. Long-term studies are needed to assess ultimate effect
s on final height.