A lifetime of growth hormone deficiency: a US pediatric perspective.

At a dose of approximately 0.3 mg/kg/week, treatment with growth hormone (GH) in GH-deficient children achieves adult heights that are in close proximity to a final height SDS of -0.7 +/- 1.3 for males and -0.7 +/- 1.1 for females. Early diagnosis, treatment with adequate doses of GH and attention to compliance with therapy have contributed to these striking improvements in 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 with childhood-onset GH deficiency from childhood to adulthood. Re-testing of GH secretory status is but one of the issues; others include appropriate dosing and appropriate endocrinological management. Awareness of the consequences of adult GH deficiency must be increased further among endocrinologists, patients and insurers.