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 .
Final height outcome after three years of growth hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment in short adolescents with relatively early puberty.
OBJECTIVE Our objective was to assess final height ( FH ) and adverse effects of combined GH and GnRH agonist ( GnRHa ) treatment in short adolescents born small for gestational age or with normal birth size ( idiopathic short stature ) . DESIGN AND PATIENTS Thirty-two adolescents with Tanner stage 2 - 3 , age and bone age ( BA ) less than 12 yr for girls or less than 13 yr for boys , height sd score ( SDS ) less than -2.0 SDS or between -1.0 and -2.0 SDS plus a predicted adult height ( PAH0 ) less than -2.0 SDS were r and omly allocated to receive  GH plus GnRHa  ( n=17 ) or no treatment ( n=15 ) for 3 yr . FH was assessed at the age of 18 yr or older in girls or 19 yr or older in boys . RESULTS FH was not different between treatment and control groups . Treated children had a larger height gain ( FH-PAH0 ) than controls : 4.4 ( 4.9 ) and -0.5 ( 6.4 ) cm , respectively ( P<0.05 ) . FH was higher than PAH0 in 76 and 60 % of treated and control subjects , respectively . During follow-up , 50 % of the predicted height gain at treatment withdrawal was lost , result ing in a mean gain of 4.9 cm ( range , -4.0 to 12.3 cm ) compared with controls . Treatment did not affect body mass index or hip bone mineral density . Mean lumbar spine bone mineral density and bone mineral apparent density tended to be lower in treated boys , albeit statistically not significant . CONCLUSION Given the expensive and intensive treatment regimen , its modest height gain results , and the possible adverse effect on peak bone mineralization in males , GH plus GnRHa can not be considered routine treatment for children with idiopathic short stature or persistent short stature after being born small for gestational age
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 .