Growth, body weight and bone maturation in children with hyposomatotrophic dwarfism under treatment with human growth hormone
Rybak, M.; Soltysik-Wilk, E.; Drop, K.; Piatkowska, E.
Materia Medica Polona. Polish Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy 8(1): 21-25
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-5246 PMID: 177826 Document Number: 107863
The study was on 3 girls and 6 boys between 7.5 and 15 years of age. Diagnosis of pituitary dwarfism was based on the clinical picture and failure of release of somatotropin in response to insulin or arginine. Height age varied from 2.5 to 6.5, bone age from 2.5 to 9 years. Treatment was with human somatotropin, prepared in Warsaw, 6 mg/week in 2 intramuscular injections. Treatment continued for from 4 to 9.4 months and the growth increment in mm/month was from 4.9 to 9.2, mean 7.0. Height age rose more than bone age in 5 of the 8 children in whom the comparison was made, and Rohrer's index fell in all but one, in whom there was no change. Antibodies to the hormone appeared in 2 children; because of the short period of treatment their effect could not be studied. Side-effects were not seen.