A lifetime of growth hormone deficiency: A US pediatric perspective

At a dose of approximately 0.3 mg/kg/week, treatment with growth hormone (G N) in GH-deficient children achieves adult heights that are in close proxim ity to a final height SDS of -0.7 +/- 1.3 for males and -0.7 +/- 1.1 for fe males, Early diagnosis, treatment with adequate doses of GN and attention t o compliance with therapy have contributed to these striking improvements i n height gain in both males and females. Final heights of 171.6 +/- 8.2 cm in males and 158.5 +/- 7.1 cm in females have been reported. There remains a considerable educational need with regard to the transition of patients w ith childhood-onset GH deficiency from childhood to adulthood. Re-testing o f CH secretory status is but one of the issues; others include appropriate dosing and appropriate endocrinological management, Awareness of the conseq uences of adult GH deficiency must be increased further among endocrinologi sts, patients and insurers.