Aromatase inhibitor combined with rhGH in the treatment of male children with idiopathic short stature

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of aromatase inhibitor combined with recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) in the treatment of male children with idiopathic short stature. Methods Thirty-six children with idiopathic short stature admitted to the Second People′s Hospital of Foshan City, Guangdong Province from January 2014 to January 2016 were included in the study. All patients were adolescent boys and were divided into observation group(n=18, treated with letrozole combined with rhGH), and control group (n=18, treated with rhGH alone) according to the random number table. The intervention lasted for two years. The height, growth rate, bone age, predicted height, and incidence of adverse reactions during treatment were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the height, growth rate, bone age, and predicted height between the two groups (all P>0.05). After 2 years of treatment, the height, growth rate, and predicted height of children of the two groups were higher than before treatment (tobservation=3.167, 2.794, 4.129; tcontrol=2.856, 3.406, 2.513, all P 0.05). Compared with before treatment, there was no significant difference in the bone age of the two groups after treatment (all P>0.05). During the period of treatment, there were no serious adverse events occurred in both groups. The total incidence of side effects in observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (χ2=5.746, P<0.05). Conclusion Aromatase inhibitors combined with rhGH is effective in the improvement of the height and growth rate of children with idiopathic short stature with high safety. Key words: Idiopathic short stature; Adolescent boy; Aromatase inhibitor; Recombinant human growth hormone