Higher dose, earlier start to GH therapy can lead to greater growth response

Amongst patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD), Turner syndrome (TS), Noonan syndrome (NS), and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), long-term use of growth hormone therapy results in large increases in height standard deviation scores (HSDS), with greater gains achieved with higher GH doses and earlier initiation of therapy, according to a study.

In this retrospective study, data from pediatric patients with GHD (n = 12,683), TS (n = 1307), NS (n = 203), and PWS (n = 102) were analyzed at GH treatment initiation and annually for 5 years.

In all cohorts, there was an HSHS increase during GH treatment.

The following were factors with significant positive effects on height SDS changes:
-GH initiation at a younger age
-Lower HSDS at baseline (in all cohorts)
-Higher GH dose (in GHD and TS cohorts only)

Sex did not have an effect in any cohort.

In year 1, height SDS changes was greatest before weakening through year 5.

Reference
Ross J, Fridman M, Kelepouris N, et al. Factors Associated With Response to Growth Hormone in Pediatric Growth Disorders: Results of a 5-year Registry Analysis. J Endocr Soc. 2023;7(5):bvad026. doi: 10.1210/jendso/bvad026. PMID: 36936713; PMCID: PMC10016032.