Treatment of growth hormone-deficient infants with recombinant human growth hormone to near-adult height: patterns of growth.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine adult statures and linear growth patterns of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) who began treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in infancy.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with GHD in whom administration of rhGH was initiated at or before 2 years of age and who had achieved near-adult heights (NAH) were identified in the database of the Genentech National Cooperative Growth Study.

RESULTS

After beginning treatment at a mean age of 0.9 years and height of -2.3 SD, these subjects achieved mean statures of -0.6, -0.3, and -0.4 SD at 5 and 10 years of age and at NAH, respectively. In 23 patients whose parental heights were known, mean NAH was comparable to the target height. Patients with uncomplicated courses whose heights were normal or tall when spontaneous puberty occurred or was induced realized the tallest NAHs. Patients with severe prenatal or perinatal, congenital and acquired neurologic insults, sexual precocity, or associated illnesses achieved less optimal NAHs.

CONCLUSION

A normal pattern of linear growth during childhood and adolescence and satisfactory NAHs can be achieved in the majority of patients when treatment of the GHD subject is begun during infancy.