Effect of growth hormone treatment on testicular function, puberty, and adrenarche in boys with non-growth hormone-deficient short stature: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) therapy on puberta l onset, pubertal pace, adult testicular function, and adrenarche in boys w ith non-GH-deficient short stature. Study design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. GH (0.074 mg/kg, subcutaneously, 3 times per week) or placebo treatment was initiate d in prepubertal or early pubertal boys and continued until near final heig ht was reached (n = 49). Statistical significance was assessed by survival analysis, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and Student t test. Results: GH therapy did not affect the age at pubertal onset, defined eithe r by testicular volume >4 mt or by testosterone concentration >1.0 nmol/L ( 30 ng/dL). GI-I treatment also did not affect the pace of puberty, defined either by the rate of change in testicular volume or testosterone concentra tion during the 4 years after pubertal onset. In boys followed up to age gr eater than or equal to 16 years during the study, there were no significant differences in final testicular volume or in plasma testosterone, luteiniz ing hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. The pace of ad renarche, assessed by change in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels over time, also did not differ significantly between the GH and placebo groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that GH treatment does not cause testicula r damage, alter the onset or pace of puberty, or alter the pace of adrenarc he in boys with non-GH-deficient short stature.