Childhood onset of GH deficiency:Reassessment of GH status and effects of substitution

Summary The final height of 77 patients with growth hormone (GH) insufficiency of childhood onset was analysed.Patients were treated between 1968 and 1996 for 1–15 years. The mean final height in patients with severe GH deficiency was 163.9 cm (males) or 151.1 cm (female patients). In patients with partial GH insufficiency, the mean final heights were 166.2 and 157.7 cm, respectively, and in patients with GH deficiency caused by intracerebral tumours, 175.9 or 160.2 cm, respectively. Late established diagnosis, lack of (pituitary) GH during the time prior to 1980 or low frequency of injections per week were related to the fact that final height was often below the target height range. In four of 51 retested patients with childhood onset GH deficiency, a normal response of the pituitary gland to pharmacological testing was found, whereas all other patients still suffered from GH insufficiency. An increased amount of fat and a decreased amount of lean body mass as well as low bone mineral density (12 out of 15 patients) could be demonstrated at re-evaluation.