Abstract
Previous studies have not clarified the issue of whether hGH therapy can significantly increase the height of patients with IUGR. In order to determine whether the initial increase in growth rate shown by Foley (J. Pediatr. 84: 635, 1974) is sustained through subsequent treatment, 19 prepubertal IUGR patients (term gestation, height <43. 7 cm, weight <2kg) were treated with hGH. Ten of them received a second treatment course.
Growth rates in cm/year were 4.8 ± 1.4 (mean ± SD) for the pre-treatment period (mean duration 14 months), 7.6 ± 2.3 for the first treatment period (mean 13. 7 months), 4.2 ± 2.5 for the interval between treatments (mean 11.1 months), 5.9 ± 1.4 for the second treatment period (mean 13. 7 months) and 4.3 ± 2.6 for the post-treatment period (mean 13.6 months). Growth rates for the two treatment periods were significantly greater than the pre-, interval between, and post-treatment rates. The SD below the mean in height increased significantly between the onset of treatment and the most recent measurement. Sixteen untreated IUGR patients followed for ≥ 5 years did not show this difference.
These data indicate that hGH has a sustained positive effect on increasing growth rates in children with IUGR, although the magnitude of the effect may decrease with further treatment. Furthermore, with the presently increased availability of hGH, therapy appears to be indicated in children with IUGR.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lanes, R., Plotnick, L. & Lee, P. 309 SUSTAINED EFFECT OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE (hGH) THERAPY ON CHILDREN WITH INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION (IUGR). Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 415 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00314
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00314