ACTA ENDOCRINOLOGICA (BUC)

Background/Aims. Growth hormone (GH) treatment has severe cost burden on patients, their families, and healthcare systems. Therefore, accuracy of diagnosis should be confirmed; factors affecting the response to treatment should be defined. The present study is performed to evaluate auxiliary diagnostic parameters and factors affecting treatment in growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Methods. In this study, 142 patients under the age of 16, with at least one year of treatment, were included. Treatment dose of somatropin was 0.2 mg/kg/week in all cases. Response to treatment was evaluated by measuring annual height and height standard deviation score (SDS) gains every 3 months. Results. Male to female ratio was 79 to 63, and follow-up duration before the treatment was 0.89±0.38 years. Annual growth rate before the treatment was 2.92±1.02 cm, and age at the treatment initiation was 9.97±3.22 years. Height gain SDS at the end of the first year was significantly higher in cases which were at the prepuberty, had severe short stature, low height SDS-mid parental height SDS (HSDS-MPHSDS), and initiated treatment at earlier ages. Correlations in height gain and height SDS gain at the end of the first year were significant between bone age at treatment baseline, delta SDS factors, L-dopa and clonidine stimulation results (both are p<0.01). Conclusion. Height gain was positively related to body mass index, whereas negatively to bone age at treatment baseline, responses obtained from stimulation tests, and delta SDS values. In the treatment evaluation, the parameters which can affect according to model chosen by the investigator, may differ.