Advances in Differential Diagnosis and Management of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Endocrinol

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2021 Aug 21

PMID 34417587

Citations 28

Authors

Camille Hage

Hoong-Wei Gan

Anastasia Ibba

Giuseppa Patti

Mehul Dattani

Sandro Loche

Mohamad Maghnie

Roberto Salvatori

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD) in children is defined as impaired production of GH by the pituitary gland that results in growth failure. This disease might be congenital or acquired, and occurs in isolation or in the setting of multiple pituitary hormone deficiency. Isolated GHD has an estimated prevalence of 1 patient per 4000-10,000 live births and can be due to multiple causes, some of which are yet to be determined. Establishing the correct diagnosis remains key in children with short stature, as initiating treatment with recombinant human GH can help them attain their genetically determined adult height. During the past two decades, our understanding of the benefits of continuing GH therapy throughout the transition period from childhood to adulthood has increased. Improvements in transitional care will help alleviate the consequent physical and psychological problems that can arise from adult GHD, although the consequences of a lack of hormone replacement are less severe in adults than in children. In this Review, we discuss the differential diagnosis in children with GHD, including details of clinical presentation, neuroimaging and genetic testing. Furthermore, we highlight advances and issues in the management of GHD, including details of transitional care.

Citing Articles

Utilities Associated with the Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD): A Time Trade-off (TTO) Study in the UK and Canada.

Kirsch S, Butler G, de Fries Jensen L, Okkels A, Yssing C, Hakan-Bloch J Patient Relat Outcome Meas. 2025; 16():9-21.

PMID: 39811679 PMC: 11731022. DOI: 10.2147/PROM.S479705.

Effect of Growth Hormone Treatment on Growth Rates in Patients With Growth Hormone Deficiency, Idiopathic Short Stature, and Small for Gestational Age.

Guliyeva L, Dundar I, Akinci A, Gozukara Bag H Cureus. 2024; 16(11):e73571.

PMID: 39677181 PMC: 11638737. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.73571.

Long-term safety and effectiveness of a somatropin biosimilar (Omnitrope) in children requiring growth hormone therapy: analysis of final data of Italian patients enrolled in the PATRO children study.

Iughetti L, Antoniazzi F, Giavoli C, Bellone S, Aversa T, Guazzarotti L Endocrine. 2024; 87(3):933-942.

PMID: 39612101 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-04090-x.

Genetic variations, clinical presentation and treatment outcome of isolated growth hormone deficiency type I and II: case series and review of the literature.

Li R, Yang Y, Bao X, Chen M, Yang H, Gong F Endocrine. 2024; 87(3):1171-1181.

PMID: 39562420 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-04102-w.

Deficient or Normal Growth Hormone Secretion in Polish Children with Short Stature: Searching for Clinical Differences.

Majewska K, Tchorzewska-Skrobich M, Wais P, Majewski D, Naskrecka M, Kedzia A Biomedicines. 2024; 12(8).

PMID: 39200139 PMC: 11351400. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081673.

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