Predicting growth response among Egyptian prepubertal idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficient children.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the predictors of growth response to growth hormone treatment in a group of isolated idiopathic growth hormone (GH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

477 GH deficient (GHD) children with GH therapy were included in the study. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 1 year and up to 6 years. Multiple linear regressions were performed to identify predictors of growth response to rhGH in the first 4 years of treatment.

RESULTS

In the first year, three significant predictors of growth were identified: GH peak [ln (ug/L)], age of onset of therapy and target height-height SDS. In the second and third years of therapy, growth velocity (GV) was both significantly and positively correlated to the GV (cm/year) of the previous year.

CONCLUSION

Prediction models offer a valuable tool for individualization and assuring adherence to rhGH and thus a cost effective treatment, which is the ultimate goal of GH therapy.