Timing of Puberty, Pubertal Growth, and Adult Height in Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age Treated With Growth Hormone

Abstract

Context: Growth hormone (GH) is used to treat short children born small for gestational age (SGA); however, the effects of treatment on pubertal timing and adult height are rarely studied. Objective: To evaluate adult height and peak height velocity in short GH-treated SGA children. Methods: Prospective longitudinal multicenter study. Participants were short children born SGA treated with GH therapy (n = 102). Adult height was reported in 47 children. A reference cohort of Danish children was used. Main outcome measures were adult height, peak height velocity, age at peak height, and pubertal onset. Pubertal onset was converted to SD score (SDS) using Danish reference data. Results: Gain in height SDS from start of treatment until adult height was significant in both girls (0.94 [0.75; 1.53] SDS, P = .02) and boys (1.57 [1.13; 2.15] SDS, P