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 .
Comparison of final heights of growth hormone-treated vs. untreated children with idiopathic growth failure.
We measured adult heights ( Ht ) of 94 healthy GH-sufficient children ( peak GH > 10 ng/mL , polyclonal RIA ) whose Ht at presentation were more than 2 SD below the mean for chronological age , with normal weight-to-Ht ratios , normal body proportions , and pathologic growth velocity for chronological age . Group 1 ( n 36 , 6 females ) received st and ardized doses ( 0.3 mg/kg x week ) of GH ( mean duration = 41 months ) , while group 2 ( n = 58 , 17 females )  received no treatment . Our conclusion was that the mean final Ht SD score in the GH-treated group ( -1.5 ) was significantly greater than in the untreated group ( -2.1 ) ; P < .001 . Genetic predisposition to short stature was evident in both groups : the midparental Ht SD score was -1.1 in the treated and -1.0 in the untreated group . Midparental Ht was met or exceeded by 42 % of the GH-treated group but only 15 % of the untreated group . Final Ht was not significantly different from predicted Ht , except from GH-treated girls , who exceeded their predicted Ht . Although the mean Ht gains ( 6.8 cm in girls and 3 cm in boys ) were modest and variable , GH treatment provided significantly better Ht outcomes for the majority of children with idiopathic growth failure
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 .