Somatropin and final height in Mexican paediatric population with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Treatment with recombinant growth hormone, or somatropin, increases linear growth and is effective in improving final height in children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), however, the available information of these results in the Latin population is scarce.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of somatropin on growth velocity and final height in Mexican children with IGHD, as well as to determine the factors associated with final height.

Patients and Method: A retrospective study was conducted in 50 children with isolated and severe growth hormone deficiency treated with somatropin. Auxological characteristics were assessed before somatropin and at final height. Only patients with severe GH deficiency, with a peak GH value < 5 µg/L, were included.

Results: 40% (n = 20) were girls. The basal height Z-score was -2.6 ± 0.4 vs final height Z-score 1.6 ± 0.7, with a Z-score of height increase of 1 ± 0.6. Ninety-two percent (n = 46) reached their genetic potential; somatropin dose was 33 ± 0.5 µg/kg/d, with a treatment duration of 4.16 ± 1.5 years. The highest growth velocity was observed during the first year. In the multivariate analysis, the association between final height, mid-parental target height (r = 0.30; p = 0.03, b = 0.7; p = 0.001), and somatropin dose (r = 0.63; p = 0.001, b = 0.30; p = 0.028) was observed.

Conclusions: Somatropin treatment allows normalization of linear growth and the achievement of genetic height potential in most Mexican children with IGHD. Final height is associated with mid-parental height and somatropin dose, highlighting the importance of genetic potential and the dose-response effect of somatropin in establishing height prognosis.