Endocrine Abstracts

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) not showing catch-up growth in early life may show decreased growth rate and adult height and worse metabolic profile compared to general population. In these patients, growth hormone (GH) treatment showed positive effects on growth rate and metabolic profile, with good tolerability. The aim of the study was to evaluate auxological and metabolic effects and safety of GH treatment in SGA children. Study included 34 SGA children (15 F, 19 M; mean age: 8.72±2.48 years) treated with GH (starting dosage: 32.24±2.88 μg/kg per die) for 24 months. Growth and metabolic parameters, including glycemic and lipid profile, transaminases, and urycemia, were collected every six months. Compared to baseline, SGA children showed significant improvements in height, weight, and growth rate after 24 months of treatment (P<0.001), already evident after six months (P<0.001). Noteworthy, patients showed constant, significant improvement in height throughout the treatment (P<0.001 T12 vs T0, P=0.03 T24 vs T12). Conversely, although significantly higher than baseline at each visit (P<0.001), after month six growth rate significantly decreased until month 18 (P<0.001 T6 vs T12; P=0.015 T12 vs T18), remaining thereby stable. Considering metabolic parameters, recurring increases in glycemia (P≤0.042 vs T12 and T18) and urycemia (P ≤ 0.01 vs T12, T18, and T24) and decrease in AST (P ≤ 0.021 vs T12, T18, and T24) and an occasional decrease in LDL cholesterol (P=0.03 vs T24) were observed. Considering safety profile, treatment was well tolerated, as the most frequently reported adverse event was poor compliance (11.8%). In conclusion, GH treatment in SGA children is an effective, safe treatment for short stature, although the metabolic profile of treated patients should be carefully monitored during time.