Growth Responses During 3 Years of Growth Hormone Treatment in Children and Adolescents With Growth Hormone Deficiency: Comparison Between Idiopathic, Organic and Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency, and Multiple Pituitary Hormone Deficiency

Background: The study aimed to compare the growth responses to 3 years of growth hormone (GH) treatment in children and adolescents with GH deficiency (GHD) according to idiopathic, organic, isolated (IGHD), and multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). Methods: Total 163 patients aged 2-18 years (100 males and 63 females; 131 idiopathic and 32 organic GHD; 129 IGHD and 34 MPHD) were included from data obtained from the LG Growth Study. Parameters of growth responses and biochemical results were compared during the 3-year GH treatment. Results: The baseline age, bone age (BA), height (Ht) standard deviation score (SDS), weight SDS, mid-parental Ht SDS, predicted adult Ht (PAH) SDS, and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) SDS were significantly higher in the organic GHD patients than in the idiopathic GHD patients, but peak GH on the GH-stimulation test, baseline GH dose, and mean 3-year-GH dosage were higher in the idiopathic GHD patients than in the organic GHD patients. The prevalence of MPHD was higher in the organic GHD patients than in the idiopathic GHD patients. Idiopathic MPHD subgroup showed the largest increase for the Delta Ht SDS and Delta PAH SDS during GH treatment, and organic MPHD subgroup had the smallest mean increase after GH treatment, depending on Delta IGF-1 SDS and Delta IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) SDS. The growth velocity and the parental-adjusted Ht gain were greater in the idiopathic GHD patients than the organic GHD patients during the 3-year GH treatment, which may have been related to the different GH dose, Delta IGF-1 SDS, and Delta IGFBP-3 SDS between two groups. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline IGF-1 SDS, BA, and MPH SDS in idiopathic group and baseline HT SDS in organic group are the most predictable parameters for favorable 3-year-GH treatment. Conclusion: The 3-year-GH treatment was effective in both idiopathic and organic GHD patients regardless of the presence of MPHD or underlying causes, but their growth outcomes were not constant with each other. Close monitoring along with appropriate dosage of GH and annual growth responses, not specific at baseline, are more important in children and adolescents with GHD for long-term treatment.

Automated summary

The study compared the growth responses of children and adolescents with GH deficiency (GHD) to 3 years of growth hormone (GH) treatment according to different types of GHD. It found that idiopathic GHD patients had greater growth velocity and parental-adjusted height gain compared to organic GHD patients. The prevalence of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) was also higher in organic GHD patients. The growth outcomes after GH treatment were not consistent between the different groups.