Effect of recombinant human growth hormone therapy on late puberty children with idiopathic short stature

Key words: 
• idiopathic short stature /
• recombinant human growth hormone /
• puberty /
• bone age

Abstract: Objective To assess the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in late puberty children with idiopathic short stature. Methods 11 children in late puberty with idiopathic short stature (ISS) were divided into 2 groups according to sex.A group consisted of 5 boys, B group was composed of 6 girls. Bone age (BA) of A group was (14～15) years, and BA of B group was (12.5～13.5) years.The enrolled children were treated with subcutaneous injection of rhGH (0.15 IU/kg·d) daily before sleep for six months,and the growth velocities (GV) and the predicted adult height (PAH) before and after treatment were compared. Results The mean height of A group and B group increased from (148.6±2.6) cm and (139.6±2.9) cm to (153.6±2.1) cm and (143.8±2.5) cm respectively. The growth velocity of A group and B group increased from (3.8±0.5) cm and (3.3±0.6) cm per year to (9.8±1.7) cm and (8.4±1.8) cm per year.PAH of A group and B group increased from (158.9±3.0) cm and (147.6±1.2) cm to (160.3±3.0) cm and (149.2±1.6) cm. There was a significant increase in rhGH therapy (all P<0.05), but no change in BA during the whole course of rhGH therapy. Conclusion rhGH was an effective and safe drug in promoring the growth in late puberty children with ISS.