Final Height in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Abstract

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.