24 GROWTH RESPONSE TO GROWTH HORMONE(GH) THERAPY IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN WITH PARTIAL AND TOTAL GH DEFICIENCY

Abstract

According to GH-peak values in provocation tests, GH deficiency (GHD) has been subdivided into a “total” (GH peak <8mU/l) and a “partial” (GH peak 8-15 mU/l) form by various investigators. Conflicting data on the response to hGH therapy have been reported. We studied growth acceleration in the 1st and 2nd year of GH therapy in prepubertal children with various forms of GHD. Group I: partial GHD (PGHD): at least one GH peak between 8-15 mU/l (n=14), 10 without (Ia) and 4 with TSH deficiency (Ib). Group II: isolated total GHD (n=9). Group III: total GH- and TSH-deficiency (n=8). Group IV: multiple pituitary deficiency (n=11). All patients received 4 IU twice a week i.m. The results are shown in the table (mean ±SD). There was no difference between the growth response of total and partial GH-deficiency. Group III showed the greatest acceleration. In group I and II combined, stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 1st year growth acceleration did not show any significant correlation with a number of clinical parameters. 2nd year growth acceleration was most closely related to pre-treatment growth velocity (r=0.71), but addition of height (SDS) and skin-fold (SDS) increased the correlation coefficient to 0.92.