Growth hormone therapy improves adult height in SGA children

Treatment with growth hormone (GH) increases adult height in children born small for gestational age (SGA), a recent study has shown.

While peak height velocity is reduced, age at peak height velocity does not differ relative to the reference cohort. In addition, SGA boys show an earlier pubertal onset than the reference cohort.

A prospective longitudinal multicentre study was carried out to assess adult height and peak height velocity in short GH-treated SGA children (n=102). The investigators reported adult height in 47 children and used a reference cohort of Danish children.

Apart from adult height and peak height velocity, age at peak height and pubertal onset were also measured. Using Danish reference data, the investigators converted pubertal onset to SD score (SDS).

Gain in height was substantial from start of treatment until adult height in both boys (SDS, 1.57, 1.13‒2.15; p<0.001) and girls (SDS, 0.94, 0.75‒1.53; p=0.02). Adult height did not differ significantly between GH dosage groups.

Peak height velocity was lower compared with a reference cohort for girls (6.5 vs 7.9 cm/year; p<0.001) and boys (9.5 vs 10.1 cm/year; p=0.002). However, no difference was observed in age at peak height velocity. In addition, SGA boys had an earlier puberty onset than the reference cohort (1.06 vs 0 SDS; p=0.002), but not girls (0.38 vs 0 SDS; p=0.18).

“GH is used to treat short children born SGA; however, the effects of treatment on pubertal timing and adult height are rarely studied,” the investigators said.