Frequency of Growth Hormone in the Etiology of Short Stature and Treatment of the Deficient Cases With Exogenous Recombinant Growth Hormone

Abstract

Sixty patients who had been referred to our out patient clinic with the complaint of short stature and whose heights were found to be below 2 Standart Deviation Scores (SDS) of agerelated values were investigated to evaluate the effect of recombinant hGH treatment. Twenty-three (38.3 %) had hasal levels of Growth Hormone (GH) and bone age retardation along with heights 2 SDS below normal .. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia and L-OOPA stimulation tests were applied to these cases. Seven cases (30.49 %) gave a complete response to these tests, while 3 cases (13.04 %) gave partial response and 13 cases (56.52 %) gave no response at all.
 Seven of the 13 patients with isolated GH deficiency were given recombinant GH 12 IU/m2 /week, subcutaneously, 6 days a week. These patients have not completed the treatment course. Reevaluation at the end of one year's therapy revealed a statistically significant difference in their growth velocities (p<0.05). We conclude that exogenous recombinant hGH is effective in the treatment of short stature due to isolated GH deficiency, and even betler responses can be achieved as the patients are recognized and treated earlier.