RESUMO
Objectives: The use of growth hormone [GH] in idiopathic short stature [ISS] has been a subject of debate for the past two decades. We sought to assess the effect of GH on final height [FH] in patients with ISS in our region, which has a high consanguinity rate, and compare it to the effect observed in GH deficient [GHD] patients
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2013 for patients with ISS or GHD from the local United Arab Emirates population who received GH treatment and were followed-up regularly in our clinic. The change in height Z-score at 12 months and FH were assessed within each group and between the two groups
Results: Twenty-one patients with ISS and 29 patients with GHD were studied. There was a significant change in height Z-score at 12 months and FH in both groups [p < 0.001]. The improvement in the ISS group was comparable to the response seen in GHD patients at 12 months [0.5 +/- 0.3 standard deviation score [SDS], and 0.5 +/- 0.4 SDS, respectively; p = 0.540]. The effect on FH was better in ISS group than the GHD group of all etiologies [1.3 +/- 0.6 SDS vs. 0.9 +/- 0.7 SDS, respectively; p = 0.050], there was no difference between the ISS and the subgroup of idiopathic GHD [1.3 +/- 0.5 SDS and 1.2 +/- 0.8 SDS, respectively]
Conclusions: In our local population, GH has a positive effect on the short-term growth and FH of children with ISS to the same extent that has been observed in children with idiopathic GH deficiency