Abstract:

Objective: Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is the most common endocrinological cause of short stature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and treatment response of children diagnosed with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (IGHE). Material and Methods: The files of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Chronological age (CA), anthropometric data, pubertal stage, target height, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1), serum free T4 and TSH levels, bone age (BA), predicted final height, GH stimulation test results, pituitary imaging results, IGF1 levels and growth velocity (GV) were recorded. Results: 83 patients were included. Chronological age was 8.56±2.47 in the prepubertal group and 11.87±1.86 in the pubertal group (p<0.001). Height SDS and weight SDS were lower in prepubertal cases (p<0.001). Growth velocity was highest in the first year of treatment and progressively decreased. A statistically significant difference was found in both groups when GV before treatment and at the first year of treatment was compared (Wilcoxon test; p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between IGF1 values of the cases and GV in the first year (Friedman test; p<0.001). While the median final height SDS value was found to be lower in boys compared to girls in pubertal cases (p=0.045), final height SDS was found to be higher in cases with high height SDS at admission for both genders (p=0.022). Conclusions: The demographic and clinical findings of the cases are consistent with the literature. The height and weight SDS at admission was lower and the difference between CA-BA was more pronounced in prepubertal cases. In pubertal cases, height SDS at admission and female gender were associated with a better final height SDS. There was a positive correlation between GV and IGF1 levels in the first year of treatment, and between GV and final height SDS in both pubertal and prepubertal cases.

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