Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham B4 6NH, UK.
Arch Dis Child. 2012 Jan;97(1):63-8. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.186205. Epub 2011 May 3.
Growth hormone (GH) therapy has now been available for over 5 decades, with all GH now biosynthetically produced, and administered by daily injection. Paediatric GH is currently licensed in six different conditions: growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Turner syndrome (TS), small for gestational age (SGA), Prader-Willi-syndrome (PWS), chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), and short stature due to SHOX deficiency; all of these have been ratified by the most recent (2010) NICE review. Whilst the primary purpose of paediatric GH therapy in most indications is to improve short and long-term growth, in others (eg. PWS) it has a role in improvement of body composition. Recent UK national audits indicate approximately 4700 children receiving GH therapy, with approximately 760 new starts a year, with most prescription still via historical growth centres. There are currently 7 different manufacturers of GH, and while most UK units currently offer free patient choice for GH device, with preliminary evidence indicating that this may improve adherence with therapy, the 30% price difference may limit choice in the future.
生长激素（GH）治疗现已应用超过 50 年，目前所有的 GH 均为生物合成，并通过每日注射给药。儿科 GH 目前在六种不同的情况下获得许可：生长激素缺乏症（GHD）、特纳综合征（TS）、小于胎龄儿（SGA）、普拉德-威利综合征（PWS）、慢性肾功能不全（CRI）和由于 SHOX 缺乏导致的身材矮小；所有这些均已被最近（2010 年）NICE 审查认可。虽然儿科 GH 治疗在大多数适应证中的主要目的是改善短期和长期生长，但在其他情况下（例如 PWS），它在改善身体成分方面也有作用。最近的英国全国性审计显示，约有 4700 名儿童接受 GH 治疗，每年约有 760 名新患者开始治疗，大多数处方仍通过历史上的生长中心开出。目前有 7 家不同的 GH 制造商，虽然大多数英国单位目前提供免费的 GH 设备供患者选择，但初步证据表明这可能会提高治疗的依从性，但 30%的价格差异可能会限制未来的选择。
