Abstract
The biochemical and growth responses to GHRH(1-29)NH2 therapy were studied in 18 prepubertal GH-deficient children (14 idiopathic, 3 cranial irradiation, 1 septo-optic dysplasia; 16 male, 2 female, mean age 9.5 years, range 6.8 - 14.2 years). GH deficiency was defined as a peak GH to stimulation of less than 7 mU/1. Fourteen children had received hGH treatment which was stopped at least 3 months before the trial. GHRH was given as twice daily sc injections in individual doses of 250 μg (children less than 20 kg bw), and 500 μg (greater than 20 kg). Peak serum GH response to GHRH before treatment was 25.8 + 6.3 mU/l (mean + SE) and after 3 months 27.4 + 4.2 mU/l; indicating no desensitisation effect. Thirteen of the 18 showed an increment in height velocity after 3 months therapy, in 6 this was greater than 2 cm/year and in 3 greater than 5 cm/year. Three children showed a greater height velocity on GHRH than on hGH. Eight children have completed 6 months therapy and 3 have shewn an Increment in height velocity of 0.4, 2.5, and 3.1 cm/year. There was no correlation between the growth response at 3 months and pre-treatment GH response to GHRH. In conclusion, we have shown tliat twice daily sc GHRH therapy is a safe treatment which promoted linear growth at 3 months in 13 of 18 GH-deficient children. However, predictors of good growth responses could not be identified.
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