First-year growth in rhGH treatment signals long-term outcomes in children with GHD

The initial height increase in the first year of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment can predict long-term growth outcomes in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), according to a study.

Although rhGH is a proven and safe treatment for short stature in GHD, not all patients see the desired results. The study aimed to determine whether early height gains could predict long-term success, potentially helping to tailor treatments more effectively.

The study tracked 165 short-stature children diagnosed with GHD and treated with rhGH for at least one year over an average follow-up period of 4.32 years. Researchers divided the participants into 2 groups based on their height standard deviation score (SDS) changes after the first year of treatment: good responders and poor responders.

The results showed that children in the good responders group had a mean height velocity SDS of 1.19 per year over 5 years, compared to just 0.59 per year in the poor responders group. These differences were statistically significant, indicating that those who responded well initially continued to experience better growth rates.

Reference
Kapała JM, Maroszczuk T, Sitarz A, et al. Primary response in GHD children treatment as a predictor for long-term therapy effectiveness therapy effectiveness. Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2024;30(2):61-68. doi: 10.5114/pedm.2024.139270. PMID: 39026482; PMCID: PMC11249800.