Japanese growth prediction model for prepubertal children with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Individual responses to growth hormone (GH) treatment are variable, and efficacy should be judged in each individual patient. The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model for the growth response of GH treatment in Japanese prepubertal children with GH deficiency. Pediatric patients with GH deficiency were enrolled. Auxological measurements, markers of GH status, and markers of bone metabolism were measured at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after the start of GH treatment. Correlations with height velocity (HV) at 36 months of GH treatment were calculated. Prediction models were evaluated by multiple regression analysis. The model, which combined the parameters of HV at 3 months, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3, standard deviation score, and pyridinoline at 3 months, best predicted HV at 36 months. This model can accurately predict the first 3 years of growth response after 3 months of GH replacement therapy in prepubertal Japanese children.