Treatment of growth hormone deficient patients with recombinant somatropin for 1 year: results of a Chinese multicentre trial.

. Fifty-nine patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency were included in a Chinese multicentre trial of recombinant somatropin, 0.5-0.7 IU/kg/week s.c. given in six or seven divided doses. The height velocity increased from 2.8 ±1.0 cm/year to 13.1 ± 2.5 cm/year during 1 year of treatment, and typical catch-up growth was observed. The increase in height SDS for chronological age was significant, but the increase in height SDS for bone age was not statistically significant. No adverse reactions to the treatment were recorded. Recombinant somatropin was shown to be very effective and safe during the first year of therapy in patients with growth hormone deficiency.