Treatment

Treatment is with synthetic human growth hormone, although other additional hormones may also be indicated.

Treatment with growth hormone in a child with growth hormone deficiency should be started as soon as possible after diagnosis.

There is evidence that treatment with synthetic growth hormone in a children with growth hormone deficiency:

• produces a final height gain of 25-30cm (1)
• almost 90% of children with growth hormone deficiency treated with synthetic growth hormone achieve an adult final height within the genetically determined target height range (2)

Growth hormone received a NHS license for use in the growth hormone deficient adult (3)

Reference:

• The British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and the Royal Colleges of Paediatrics and Child Health. Submission of evidence for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence health technology appraisal: the use of human growth hormone in children.
• Thomas M et al. Final height in children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency treated with recombinant human growth hormone: the Belgium experience. Horm Res 2001; 55:88-94.
• Update (5/11/97), p.652-6.