[Clinical and diagnostic approach to children of low stature. Evaluation of a 24-month hGH treatment of patients with growth impairment of diverse etiopathogenesis].

Growth retardation represents a frequent reason of consultation of Clinical Centers interested in Pediatric Endocrinology. Short stature is a problem especially considered by patients and their families, either because of fear of organic pathologies possibly underlying growth retardation, or because of psychological implications, frequently related to growth retardation and short stature. The Authors describe their clinical and diagnostic approach to short stature; general data from 302 patients followed and treated for growth delay are presented. Clinical experience with recombinant growth hormone (hGH) is discussed in detail: a total of 61 prepuberal children (9 with classic GH deficiency, 26 with partial GH deficiency, 18 with neurosecretory deficit, 6 "short normals", one patient with Turner's syndrome and one case of skeletal dysplasia) have been treated with hGH for a period ranging from 12 to 24 months. Height velocity (expressed as cm/year) increased significantly in all considered groups during the first and the second year of treatment, while considering standard deviation values for chronological age, all treated subjects increased significantly their stature after one year of therapy, but only patients with total GH deficiency appeared to obtain a significant gain after a 2-year course with hGH. No significant adverse effects attributable to hGH administration were observed.