For height outcome , articles were limited to studies reporting adult height and to systematic review s. FINDINGS Recombinant human growth hormone therapy of children with idiopathic short stature increases height in some children .
The cost-benefit ratio is controversial .
AND RELEVANCE Growth hormone treatment may be considered in some children with idiopathic short stature
IMPORTANCE Approximately 2 % of children are defined as having short stature .
Deciding when to pursue recombinant human growth hormone therapy to increase adult height is controversial .
OBJECTIVE To review the management of children with idiopathic short stature , including diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic options .
A Randomised Study of the Effect of Two Doses of Biosynthetic Human Growth Hormone on Final Height of Children with Familial Short Stature
Background / Aims : The effects of biosynthetic human growth hormone ( r-hGH ) in children with familial short stature ( FSS ) are varied . We determined whether responsivity to r-hGH in FSS is dose-dependent . Method : R and omised trial of two doses ( 20 or 40 IU/m2 body surface area/week by daily subcutaneous injection ) of r-hGH in 29 ( 24 male , 5 female ) FSS children with assessment at adult height . Results : Age range at presentation was 5.1–10.5 years , height less than 1.5 st and ard deviation scores ( SDS ) below the mean , height velocity SDS greater than –1.5 and peak growth hormone response to provocative testing over 13.5 mU/l  . Adult height data ( SDS ) at 16.5 ± 2.1 years for the low-dose group and 16.1 ± 1.1 years for the high-dose group ( p = 0.62 ) were similar [ low dose –1.06 ( SD 0.75 ) , high dose –1.02 ( SD 0.83 ) ; p = 0.88 ] . The incremental effect of both doses on stature was minimal [ low-dose difference in height actual-predicted 0.79 ( SD 0.94 ) , high dose 1.27 ( SD 0.88 ) ; p = 0.12 ] . Conclusion : Using this r-hGH dosing schedule there were little short- or long-term effects on height in children with FSS
For height outcome , articles were limited to studies reporting adult height and to systematic review s. FINDINGS Recombinant human growth hormone therapy of children with idiopathic short stature increases height in some children .
The cost-benefit ratio is controversial .
AND RELEVANCE Growth hormone treatment may be considered in some children with idiopathic short stature
IMPORTANCE Approximately 2 % of children are defined as having short stature .
Deciding when to pursue recombinant human growth hormone therapy to increase adult height is controversial .
OBJECTIVE To review the management of children with idiopathic short stature , including diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic options .