New insights into factors influencing adult height in short SGA children: Results of a large multicentre growth hormone trial.

BackgroundGrowth hormone (GH) treatment is effective in improving adult height (AH) in short children born SGA. However, there is a wide variation in height gain, even after adjustment for predictive variables. It is therefore important to investigate new factors which can influence the response to GH. ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of GH treatment (1mg/m(2/)day) in short SGA children on AH. To assess the relation between spontaneous catch-up growth after birth and growth during puberty on the total height gain SDS to AH. PatientsLongitudinal GH trial in 170 children. ResultsMedian age at start of GH was 71years and height -30 SDS. AH was -18 SDS (TH-corrected AH -11 SDS) in boys and -19 SDS (TH-corrected AH -13 SDS) in girls. Spontaneous catch-up growth after birth was 05 SDS in 42% of children. In contrast to expectation, spontaneous catch-up growth was negatively correlated with total height gain SDS during GH (P=0009). During puberty, height SDS declined (-04 SDS in boys and -05 SDS in girls) resulting in a lower total height gain SDS than expected. Pubertal height gain was 255cm in boys and 153cm in girls, significantly lower compared to AGA children (P<0001). At onset of puberty, BA for boys and girls was moderately advanced (P=002 and P<0001, respectively). Growth velocity was comparable to AGA children during the first two years of puberty, but thereafter significantly lower until reaching AH (P<0001). ConclusionIn contrast to our hypothesis, children with greater spontaneous catch-up growth after birth show a lower total height gain SDS during GH. Height SDS declines from mid-puberty, due to a marked early deceleration of growth velocity.