Dose effects of growth hormone during puberty

During puberty, the production rate of growth hormone (GH) doubles and is associated with an increase in growth velocity. A significant percentage of the final adult height is attained during puberty, then after puberty, the production rate of GH decreases with age. In children with GH deficiency, it is known that the dosage of GH, in addition to the duration of treatment, can greatly influence the final adult height. At present, the dosage of GH given to children of short stature is kept at a constant rate throughout puberty. Thus, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of a higher dose of GH given to GH-deficient children during puberty. In this article, the design and results of the investigation and the importance of the findings will be discussed. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.