Final height in idiopathic growth hormone deficiency: the KIGS experience

Final height was recorded in a series of 71 patients, 56 of whom had isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) (32 partial and 24 total) and 15 of whom had multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) (all with total GHD). Their mean final height was -1.63 ± 0.14 SDS (mean ± SE); no significant difference in final height was observed between patients with either total and partial isolated GHD (-1.83 ± 0.35 vs. -1.51 ± 0.15 SDS) or isolated GHD and MPHD (-1.64 ± 0.15 SDS vs. -1.59 ± 0.33 SDS). The difference between final height and target height was significant in patients with isolated GHD but not in those with MPHD. Final height was correlated with height at the onset of puberty, and height gain SDS during treatment was strongly and negatively correlated with the bone age:chronological age ratio at the onset of puberty in both isolated GHD and MPHD.

Forty-six patients (28 boys, 18 girls) were treated with growth hormone (GH) for short stature. Twenty-eight patients had total growth hormone deficiency (GHD), 12 partial GHD and 6 patients had short stature without GHD. Brain tumours were the cause of GHD in 8 patients and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency was present in 9 children. All patients received GH with subcutaneous injections only, 6-7 times/week. Mean final height for all patients was -1.11 SDS and was similar in boys ( 1.09 SDS) and girls (-1.13 SDS). Target height SDS was -0.80 SDS in 42 patients, comparing favourably with a final height SDS of-1.05. Similar results were obtained in all patient sub-groups. Height velocity during the last year of therapy was between 2.1 and 9.9 cm/ year in 34 patients and below 2 cm in 12 patients. As further growth is to be expected, target height will probably be reached by most patients.