Growth hormone therapy with a new delivery system.

Until recently the general regimen for treatment of growth hormone deficient (GHD) children consisted of 2 to 3 intramuscular (i.m.) injections per week using conventional syringes and vials. However, studies within the last 5-10 year have shown that by dividing the same total weekly dosage into daily subcutaneous (s.c.) injections it is possible to achieve a significantly increased growth rate. To make it more feasible for the patients and the parents to cope with this increased number of injections, an injection pen system (Nordiject) for administration of B-hGH has been developed. The Nordiject pen has been investigated both with respect to patient acceptance and bioavailability of the B-hGH (Norditropin) injected with the device. Twenty-seven children with growth retardation were included in a study. The patients had no problems with the handling of the pen and approximately 2/3 of them experienced less injection pain with the pen compared to the syringe. Those patients who had previously been using conventional syringes strongly preferred the pen, and all wished to continue using the device. Fourteen adult GHD patients were included in a randomized cross-over study for investigation of bioavailability. Two separate s.c. injections of 4 IU of B-hGH (Norditropin) each were administered in random order by means of either syringe (4IU/ml) or injection pen (Nordiject) (12 IU/ml). On the basis of this study it was concluded that the bioavailability of B-hGH, measured as AUC, Cmax, and tmax, is equal following injection with the pen to that of injection by syringe.

Reaçöes locais e níveis de antitoxina circulante decorrentes de administraçäo do toxóide tetânico: estudo comparativo entre ped-o-jet e seringa hipodérmica / Local reactions and antitoxin circulating levels induced by the administration of tetanus toxoid: comparative study between ped-o-jet and hypodermic syringe

Com o objetivo de comparar reaçöes locais e conversäo sorológica apresentadas por adultos que receberam o toxóide tetânico através de Ped-o-Jet (via subcutânea) ou de seringa hipodérmica (via intramuscular), o toxóide foi administrado a 472 recrutas do Exército. Em observaçöes realizadas 4 a 24 horas após a vacinaçäo verificou-se que as reaçöes locais dos indivíduos vacinados com Ped-o-Jet eram significativamente mais frequentes e mais intensas do que aquelas dos vacinados com seringa hipodérmica, näo tendo ocorrido, entretanto, reaçöes graves. A conversäo sorológica dos näo imunes vacinados com Ped-oJet ocorreu numa frequencia maior do que nos indivíduos vacinados com seringa hipodérmica. Conclui-se portanto, que o Ped-o-Jet pode ser utilizado em campanhas de vacinaçäo em massa contra o tétano, embora a via de administraçäo preferencial, até o momento, seja a intramuscular