DOES PRETREATKENT WITH GHRH CHANGE THE GROWIH RESPONSE TO GH THERAPY

Thirty-six prepubertal children with GHD, 21 boys and 15 girls aged 4.25 to 13.00 years, bone age (BA) from 2.0 to 9.5 years with growth deficiency from −1.36 to −5.62 SD to chronological age, were treated with daily subcutaneous injections of GHRH 1-29 or 1-44 at a dose of 10 μg/kg/day for 6 months. After a six month interval, treatment with biosynthetic growth hormone (Maxmoat, Sanofi) at a dose of 0.6 U/kg/week in subcutaneous injections 6-7 times per week was instituted. The growth velocity at various stages of observation and treatment was determined. The results were compared with a control group made up of 14 prepubertal GHD children who had not been treated with GHRH. 11 boys and 3 girls aged 3.75 to 13.83 years, BA 1.5 to rested for the first time with biosynthetic growth hormone (Maxomat, Sanofi] according to the same protocal and dose as above.