Preliminary results of authentic recombinant somatropin treatment in human growth hormone deficient children. French Collaborative Study.

A total of 50 children with hGH deficiency have been enrolled in a multicentre open trial of recombinant somatropin in France. Recombinant somatropin, 0.2 IU/kg s.c., was administered 3 times/week (0.6 IU/kg/week). Results are available after 3 months' treatment for 24 of the patients (11 prepubertal, 13 pubertal). The mean growth rate increased from 3.8 +/- 1.5 cm/year to 9.9 +/- 3.6 cm/year. Only one child developed anti-hGH antibodies with a very low binding capacity of 0.02 mg/litre; adverse events were uncommon and probably unrelated to treatment.