%0 Journal Article
%T Metabolic and Growth Outcome of Two-year Growth Hormone Treatment in Children Born Small for Gestational Age: A Retrospective Study.
%A Savanelli MC
%A Ferrigno R
%A Cioffi D
%A Pellino V
%A Klain A
%J Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 May 31
%M 38831574
%F 2.387
%R 10.2174/0118715303313647240524111150
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Children born Small for Gestational Age (SGA) without early catch-up growth may show impaired growth rate, adult height, and metabolic profile [1]. Growth Hormone (GH) is recommended for their treatment, and it has been shown to have positive effects on growth and metabolic profile and good tolerability [2].<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>The study aimed to evaluate the auxological and metabolic effects and safety of GH treatment in SGA children.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>34 SGA children (15 F, 19 M; mean age: 8.72 ± 2.48 yrs) treated with GH (starting dosage: 32.24 ± 2.88 mcg/kg/die) were evaluated every six months for 24 months with growth and metabolic parameters.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>After two years, SGA children showed a significant improvement in height, weight, and growth rate, already evident after six months (p < 0.001), with a constant, significant improvement in height throughout the treatment (p ≤ 0.03 T0 vs. T12, T12 vs. T24). Conversely, although significantly higher than baseline at each visit (p < 0.001), the growth rate significantly decreased from 6 to 18 months (p ≤ 0.015 T6 vs. T12, T12 vs. T18). During the follow-up, an increase in glycemia (p ≤ 0.042 vs. T12, T18) and urycemia (p ≤ 0.01 vs. T12, T18, and T24) and a decrease in AST (p ≤ 0.021 vs. T12, T18, and T24) and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.03 vs. T24) were observed. Overall, treatment was found to be well tolerated, with poor compliance being the most frequent adverse event (11.8%) and no reported hyperglycemia.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>In conclusion, GH can be considered an effective, safe treatment in SGA children, improving height and growth rate, although proper metabolic follow-up is required.