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Mendonca BB, Arnhold IJP. GH Treatment in Children of Normal Height. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:e1955-e1958. [PMID: 38958114 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The increased availability of recombinant human GH (rhGH), albeit at a relatively high cost, has increased a demand for treatment of children and adolescents of normal height to increase their adult stature. There are no scientific reports on the efficacy and safety of rhGH therapy in this condition; therefore, the authors comment on the possible causes and consequences based on their personal opinion and experience. As in gigantism, when GH action and end-organ are normal, enough GH is expected to result in increased growth velocity. Short-term adverse effects related to rhGH therapy for approved indications of short stature in children have been very rare. Data on long-term adverse effects are still scarce. A small increase in height might be statistically significant but not functionally or socially relevant. Considering that an increase in height represents more a desire than a need, physicians should emphasize the normality and qualities of these children, discuss with families the alternatives, such as counseling, and refrain from supporting the concept that taller is better.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenice B Mendonca
- Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular/LIM42, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo 05403-900, Brazil
| | - Ivo J P Arnhold
- Disciplina de Endocrinologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Unidade de Endocrinologia do Desenvolvimento, Laboratório de Hormônios e Genética Molecular/LIM42, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo 05403-900, Brazil
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Kamoun C, Largent EA, Grimberg A. Heightism, growth hormone treatment, and social functioning: a holistic approach to a persistent clinical challenge. Curr Opin Pediatr 2024; 36:442-448. [PMID: 38747208 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment to increase height in children with non-growth hormone deficient short stature is becoming more common. Yet, the evidence to support the notion that augmenting height directly leads to increased well being, specifically psychosocial well being, is inconsistent, with high-quality evidence lacking. RECENT FINDINGS Review of recent studies demonstrates that the association between height augmentation and psychosocial well being is complex. The direct contribution of height to well being may be less than the current model of clinical care of short stature assumes. Rather, the new studies provide evidence to support a role for psychosocial factors, including height-related beliefs, social support, and coping skills, in promoting psychosocial well being, specifically quality of life and self-esteem. SUMMARY Clinical care of short stature would benefit from incorporating a holistic model of care that considers psychosocial interventions in addition to, or instead of, rhGH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilia Kamoun
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Emily A Largent
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania
| | - Adda Grimberg
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Suh J, Heo J, Kim SJ, Park S, Jung MK, Choi HS, Choi Y, Oh JS, Lee HI, Lee M, Song K, Kwon A, Chae HW, Kim HS. Bone Age Estimation and Prediction of Final Adult Height Using Deep Learning. Yonsei Med J 2023; 64:679-686. [PMID: 37880849 PMCID: PMC10613764 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2023.0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The appropriate evaluation of height and accurate estimation of bone age are crucial for proper assessment of the growth status of a child. We developed a bone age estimation program using a deep learning algorithm and established a model to predict the final adult height of Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1678 radiographs from 866 children, for which the interpretation results were consistent between two pediatric endocrinologists, were used to train and validate the deep learning model. The bone age estimation algorithm was based on the convolutional neural network of the deep learning system. The test set simulation was performed by a deep learning program and two raters using 150 radiographs and final height data for 100 adults. RESULTS There was a statistically significant correlation between bone age interpreted by the artificial intelligence (AI) program and the reference bone age in the test set simulation (r=0.99, p<0.001). In the test set simulation, the AI program showed a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.59 years and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.55 years, compared with reference bone age, and showed similar accuracy to that of an experienced pediatric endocrinologist (rater 1). Prediction of final adult height by the AI program showed an MAE of 4.62 cm, compared with the actual final adult height. CONCLUSION We developed a bone age estimation program based on a deep learning algorithm. The AI-derived program demonstrated high accuracy in estimating bone age and predicting the final adult height of Korean children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghwan Suh
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jinkyoung Heo
- Department of University Industry Foundation, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Jin Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soyeong Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mo Kyung Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Han Saem Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University, Incheon, Korea
| | - Youngha Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea
| | - Jun Suk Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hae In Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Myeongseob Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyungchul Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ahreum Kwon
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Wook Chae
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho-Seong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Endocrine Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Wit JM, Joustra SD. Long-acting PEGylated growth hormone in children with idiopathic short stature: time to reconsider our diagnostic and treatment policy? Eur J Endocrinol 2023; 188:6979711. [PMID: 36651155 DOI: 10.1093/ejendo/lvac005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is a diagnosis of exclusion, and therefore each child with short stature or slow growth referred to a paediatrician deserves a full medical history and physical examination, as well as radiological and laboratory screening tests. In patients with an increased likelihood of a genetic cause, genetic testing is indicated. Idiopathic short stature is an approved indication for recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the USA but not in most other parts of the world. In a recent article published in this journal, Luo et al reported on the 1-year's results of a multicentre randomized controlled trial (n = 360) on the efficacy and safety of two dosages of long-acting PEGylated rhGH (PEG-rhGH, Jintrolong®) (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg body weight per week, respectively) in children with ISS compared with an untreated control group. The growth response to the higher dosage was similar to reported data on daily rhGH. In this commentary, we discuss whether the recent data on genetic causes of short stature in children who initially were labelled ISS, and data on the long-term safety of daily rhGH, may influence the balance between risks and benefits of rhGH treatment in children with ISS. We further discuss the pharmacokinetic and -dynamic profile of PEG-rhGH and its potential consequences for long-term safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan M Wit
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd D Joustra
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
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Abstract
In enhancement ethics, evolutionary theory has been largely perceived as supporting liberal views on enhancement, in which decisions to enhance are predominantly regulated by the principle of individual autonomy. In this article, I critique this perception in light of recent scientific developments. Cultural evolutionary theory suggests a picture in which individual interests are entangled with community interests, and this undermines the applicability of the principle of autonomy. This is particularly relevant for enhancement ethics given how-I argue-decisions to enhance are often influenced by desires to increase social status. The service view on enhancement, based on principles of service and trust, offers, I propose, better guidance for the challenges of social living.
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Kecskemeti KL, Reis-Dennis S. The Ethics of Elective Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Idiopathic Short Stature. THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ETHICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1086/jce2021323206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Graber E, Reiter EO, Rogol AD. Human Growth and Growth Hormone: From Antiquity to the Recominant Age to the Future. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:709936. [PMID: 34290673 PMCID: PMC8287422 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.709936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Since antiquity Man has been fascinated by the variations in human (and animal) growth. Stories and art abound about giants and little people. Modern genetics have solved some of etiologies at both extremes of growth. Serious study began with the pathophysiology of acromegaly followed by early attempts at treatment culminating in modern endoscopic surgery and multiple pharmacologic agents. Virtually at the same time experiments with the removal of the pituitary from laboratory animals noted the slowing or stopping of linear growth and then over a few decades the extraction and purification of a protein within the anterior pituitary that restored, partially or in full, the animal's growth. Human growth hormone was purified decades after those from large animals and it was noted that it was species specific, that is, only primate growth hormone was metabolically active in primates. That was quite unlike the beef and pork insulins which revolutionized the care of children with diabetes mellitus. A number of studies included mild enzymatic digestion of beef growth hormone to determine if those "cores" had biologic activity in primates and man. Tantalizing data showed minimal but variable metabolic efficacy leading to the "active core" hypothesis, for these smaller peptides would be amenable to peptide synthesis in the time before recombinant DNA. Recombinant DNA changed the landscape remarkably promising nearly unlimited quantities of metabolically active hormone. Eight indications for therapeutic use have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and a large number of clinical trials have been undertaken in multiple other conditions for which short stature in childhood is a sign. The future predicts other clinical indications for growth hormone therapy (and perhaps other components of the GH?IGF-1 axis), longer-acting analogues and perhaps a more physiologic method of administration as virtually all methods at present are far from physiologic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Graber
- DO Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Nemours/Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
| | - Edward O. Reiter
- Baystate Children’s Hospital, UMassMedical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, United States
| | - Alan D. Rogol
- Pediatrics/Endocrinology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Halas JG, Grimberg A. Dilemmas of growth hormone treatment for GH deficiency and idiopathic short stature: defining, distinguishing, and deciding. Minerva Pediatr 2020; 72:206-225. [PMID: 32274914 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4946.20.05821-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Worrisome growth can be a sign of underlying pathology but usually reflects healthy variation. It is often recognized through short stature, which is defined by arbitrarily separating height, a physical trait on a continuum, into "normal" and "abnormal." In some cases of worrisome growth, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment is indicated to hasten growth/increase height. This review addresses the two most frequently treated indications for rhGH, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS). A review of worrisome growth itself, of the history of GH treatment, of the blurry line between partial GHD and ISS, of the GH stakeholders, and of the outside pressures involved in these cases demonstrates the ambiguous platform upon which treatment decisions are made. The rhGH treatment decision process can be examined further by considering the three most impactful factors on parental height-related medical decision-making: treatment characteristics, child health, and psychosocial function. While it is important to note that treatment for classical GHD is uncontroversial and supported, treatment decisions for partial GHD and ISS are more complicated and require careful evaluation of both patient needs and the supporting evidence. As the rhGH community grows, physicians, parents, and patients are encouraged to engage in a shared decision-making process to navigate the many challenges facing the GH field. Although this review addresses GHD and ISS specifically, the issues discussed are often applicable to pediatrics as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia G Halas
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Adda Grimberg
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA -
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Murano MC, Slatman J, Zeiler K. How sociophenomenology of the body problematises the 'problem-oriented approach' to growth hormone treatment. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2020; 46:2-11. [PMID: 30478090 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2018-011548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This article examines how people who are shorter than average make sense of their lived experience of embodiment. It offers a sociophenomenological analysis of 10 semistructured interviews conducted in the Netherlands, focusing on if, how, and why height matters to them. It draws theoretically on phenomenological discussions of lived and objective space, intercorporeality and norms about bodies. The analysis shows that height as a lived phenomenon (1) is active engagement in space, (2) coshapes habituated ways of behaving and (3) is shaped by gendered norms and beliefs about height. Based on this analysis, the article challenges what we label as the 'problem-oriented approach' to discussions about growth hormone treatment for children with idiopathic short stature. In this approach, possible psychosocial disadvantages or problems of short stature and quantifiable height become central to the ethical evaluation of growth hormone treatment at the expense of first-hand lived experiences of short stature and height as a lived phenomenon. Based on our sociophenomenological analysis, this paper argues that the rationale for giving growth hormone treatment should combine medical and psychological assessments with investigations of lived experiences of the child. Such an approach would allow considerations not only of possible risks or disadvantages of short stature but also of the actual ways in which the child makes sense of her or his height.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Murano
- Department of Culture and Communication, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Medicine, Science, Health and Society (Cermes3), School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS), Paris, France
- Center for Bioethics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Jenny Slatman
- Department of Culture Studies, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Kristin Zeiler
- Department of Thematic Studies: Technology and Social Change, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Soliman AT, Elawwa A, Itani M, Jour C, De Sanctis V. Responses to growth hormone (GH) therapy in short children with normal GH secretion and no bone age delay: an analysis of potential factors affecting their response to rhGH therapy. A controlled study. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2019; 90:43-51. [PMID: 31544806 PMCID: PMC7233685 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v90i8-s.8506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Variability still exist about the growth response to growth hormone (GH) therapy in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). We describe the growth response to rhGH therapy for >2 years in 20 prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) and 18 children with GH deficiency (GHD) and compared them with 15 children with ISS who did not receive rhGH therapy. Patients and methods: Our study included 35 prepubertal and peripubertal (Tanner 1 and 2) children with short stature (Ht-SDS <-2) and/or Ht-SDS >1SD below their mid parental height SD (MP-Ht-SDS) with slow growth velocity (<-1 SD), with normal peak GH response to provocation tests (15.5±6.5 ng/dl), normal IGF-I SDS (-0.9±0.6), and no bone age delay (± 1 year from chronological age) (ISS). 20 children were treated for 2.5±1.5 years with rhGH 0.05 mg/kg/day and 15 children were not treated with rhGH. 18 children with diagnosis of GHD, diagnosed in the same period, receiving rhGH therapy served as controls. We assessed the linear growth and IGF-I levels of all children for an average of 2 years. Results: Children with ISS on rhGH therapy had a height gain of 0.77 SD in 2 years versus 1.05 SD in GHD children, with significant increase in IGF-I and normal progression of bone age and puberty. Children with ISS who did not receive rhGH had no gain in the changes of Ht-SDS inspite of normal progression of bone age and puberty. The difference between children Ht-SDS and mid-parental height SDS (MP-Ht-SDS) changed significantly from -1.1±3 to -0.3±0.5 in the ISS group and from -1.35±0.5 to -0.3±0.25 in the GHD group, after an average of 2 years of treatment. In the treated ISS group, the Ht-SDS gain was correlated positively with the duration of rhGH therapy (r = 0.82, p<0.0001), negatively with the age at the start of treatment (r = -0.544, p = 0.01), and positively with the bone age (r =-0.44, p = 0.04). Discussion: The Ht-SDS of children with ISS on rhGH treatment closely approached their MP-Ht-SDS after 2 years of rhGH therapy while those who did not receive rhGH kept the same distance from their MP-Ht-SDS after 2 years. Analysis of possible factors affecting linear growth in children with ISS on rhGH therapy showed that children below 9 years with Ht-SDS <-2.5 SD and those with Ht-SDS >1SD below MP-Ht-SDS grew better on rhGH therapy compared to older children and those with Ht-SDS >-2.5 and were less than 1SD from their MP-HT-SD. Higher doses of rhGH (to keep IGF-I in high normal levels) and longer duration of therapy improved the Ht-SDS gain of these children. Conclusion: We report significant gain in Ht-SDS in prepubertal children with ISS on rhGH therapy and better response in younger children and in those with Ht-SDS > 1 SD below their MP-Ht-SDS. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashraf T Soliman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
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Rhie YJ, Yoo JH, Choi JH, Chae HW, Kim JH, Chung S, Hwang IT, Shin CH, Kim EY, Kim HS. Long-term safety and effectiveness of growth hormone therapy in Korean children with growth disorders: 5-year results of LG Growth Study. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216927. [PMID: 31095622 PMCID: PMC6522217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this registry study was to analyze the long-term safety and effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in South Korean pediatric patients (≥2 years of age) with growth hormone deficiency GHD) of idiopathic or organic etiology, idiopathic short stature, Turner syndrome, small for gestational age and chronic renal failure. METHODS The study patients were followed-up till two years after the epiphyseal closure, with visits scheduled every six months. The outcome measures included the incidence of adverse events (AEs, in particular, neoplasia, glucose intolerance and hypothyroidism), as well as height standard deviation score (Ht SDS) and annual height velocity. The results of the interim analysis of a 5-year accumulated data for 2,024 patients (7,342 patient-years, PY) are presented. RESULTS A total of 14 neoplasms were diagnosed (191/100,000 PY); 7 out of 9 malignancies were recurrent craniopharyngioma found in patients with organic GHD. Seven cases of glucose intolerance (95/100,000 PY) and 22 cases of hypothyroidism (300/100,000 PY) were detected; about half of the cases (4 and 10 cases each) were considered to be related with rhGH treatment. Most of the growth-retarded patients showed continuous improvement in Ht SDS, with the most prominent effect observed within a year of treatment initiation. The beneficial effect of rhGH on Ht SDS gain was maintained for 2-4 years. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of AEs of interest in rhGH-treated patients was low, and most of the neoplasms were benign and/or non-related to rhGH. Most patients benefited from the therapy in terms of height increment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Jun Rhie
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea
| | - Jae-Ho Yoo
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea
| | - Jin-Ho Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun-Wook Chae
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Hyun Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sochung Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Il Tae Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Choong Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Ho-Seong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail:
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Allen DB. Cost-Conscious Growth-Promoting Treatment: When Discretion Is the Better Part of Value. Horm Res Paediatr 2019; 90:145-150. [PMID: 30269127 DOI: 10.1159/000493397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing cost-effectiveness of human growth hormone (hGH) treatment to augment height is complicated by uncertainty about how best to measure its therapeutic effect. Cost-conscious growth promotion practice, however, is possible and likely an emerging practical requisite as health care payers increasingly deny the medical necessity of and restrict support for short stature treatment. The increase in denials is not surprising given the expansion and continued high cost of hGH treatment, debate about the value of such treatment, and universal need to restrain burgeoning health care costs. Renunciation of sweeping payer rejection of hGH-for-height treatment is strengthened by cost-conscious practices that (1) recommend no treatment for most short children and restrict treatment to severe, likely disabling short stature; (2) initiate hGH treatment only after evidence-based informed assent; (3) utilize alternative less costly and less invasive options when possible; (4) minimize hGH treatment duration and dosage; and (5) resist enhancement of normal adult stature. A new era of cost-conscious hGH prescribing that prompts thoughtful restraint in hGH use could help preserve hGH approval for children most in need of treatment.
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Finken MJJ, van der Steen M, Smeets CCJ, Walenkamp MJE, de Bruin C, Hokken-Koelega ACS, Wit JM. Children Born Small for Gestational Age: Differential Diagnosis, Molecular Genetic Evaluation, and Implications. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:851-894. [PMID: 29982551 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Children born small for gestational age (SGA), defined as a birth weight and/or length below -2 SD score (SDS), comprise a heterogeneous group. The causes of SGA are multifactorial and include maternal lifestyle and obstetric factors, placental dysfunction, and numerous fetal (epi)genetic abnormalities. Short-term consequences of SGA include increased risks of hypothermia, polycythemia, and hypoglycemia. Although most SGA infants show catch-up growth by 2 years of age, ∼10% remain short. Short children born SGA are amenable to GH treatment, which increases their adult height by on average 1.25 SD. Add-on treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist may be considered in early pubertal children with an expected adult height below -2.5 SDS. A small birth size increases the risk of later neurodevelopmental problems and cardiometabolic diseases. GH treatment does not pose an additional risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn J J Finken
- Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, MB Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Manouk van der Steen
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carolina C J Smeets
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marie J E Walenkamp
- Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, MB Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Christiaan de Bruin
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Anita C S Hokken-Koelega
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, CN Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan M Wit
- Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, RC Leiden, Netherlands
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Chandar MCSR, Kaplowitz PB, Vaidyanathan P. CHALLENGES OF SECURING GROWTH HORMONE COVERAGE FOR IDIOPATHIC SHORT STATURE: REVIEW OF THE 7-YEAR EXPERIENCE AT ONE INSTITUTION. Endocr Pract 2018; 25:156-160. [PMID: 30383493 DOI: 10.4158/ep-2018-0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval of growth hormone (GH) for idiopathic short stature (ISS), many providers face challenges obtaining insurance coverage. We reviewed the insurance coverage experience for ISS at our hospital to identify factors predictive of approval or denial. METHODS We reviewed charts of patients who underwent GH stimulation testing from July 1, 2009, to April 30, 2017, to identify ISS patients (height <-2.25 SD, subnormal predicted adult height (PAH) and peak GH >10 ng/mL). RESULTS Eighty-seven patients met ISS criteria, of whom 47 (29 male/18 female) had a GH request submitted to insurance. Mean age, height, and growth velocity were 8.6 ± 2.7 years, 2.83 ± 0.4 SD, and 4.4 ± 1.7 cm/year, respectively. Mean PAH based on bone age was -2.50 ± 0.9 SD, equaling 62 inches for males and 58 inches for females. Most had private managed care insurance (74%). Overall, 17/47 (36%) received treatment approval, 7 immediately and 10 more on appeal. There were no differences in age, height SD, growth rate, insurance type, or PAH between the 17 who were approved and the 30 denied. For 21 patients who were treated, a mean increase in 0.6 SD in height was seen after 1 year. CONCLUSION At our institution, GH coverage requests for ISS included very short children mostly ages 6 to 11, with heights well below -2.25 SD and poor PAH. Only 36% were approved even after appeal. This highlights the challenge in our area to secure GH treatment for a FDA-approved indication. Collaboration between pediatric endocrinologists and insurers focusing on height SD and PAH, may improve cost-effective coverage to deserving short children who meet FDA guidelines for ISS treatment. ABBREVIATIONS FDA = Food and Drug Administration; GH = growth hormone; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1; ISS = idiopathic short stature; PAH = predicted adult height.
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Horne VE, Sandberg DE, Gardner M, Lantos JD, Allen DB. Growth Hormone Therapy for a Child With Severe Cognitive Impairment. Pediatrics 2018; 142:peds.2017-3938. [PMID: 30237229 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2017-3938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of growth hormone therapy over the last 3 decades has allowed for treatment of short stature for more children, resulting in increased height for many. However, treatment of idiopathic short stature remains controversial. Treatment decisions for disabled children with idiopathic short stature are even more complicated. We discuss a specific case of short stature in a disabled child and grapple with the ethical issues involved in the use of growth hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent E Horne
- Texas Children's Hospital and Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - David E Sandberg
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Melissa Gardner
- Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - John D Lantos
- Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri; and
| | - David B Allen
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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Hwang JS, Lee HS, Lee KH, Yoo HW, Lee DY, Suh BK, Ko CW, Chung WY, Jin DK, Shin CH, Han HS, Han S, Kim HS. Once-Weekly Administration of Sustained-Release Growth Hormone in Korean Prepubertal Children with Idiopathic Short Stature: A Randomized, Controlled Phase II Study. Horm Res Paediatr 2018; 90:54-63. [PMID: 29925064 PMCID: PMC6172795 DOI: 10.1159/000489262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS To determine the optimal dose of LB03002, a sustained-release, once-weekly formulation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), and to compare its efficacy and safety with daily rhGH in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). METHODS This multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase II study included GH-naïve, prepubertal children with ISS, randomized to receive daily rhGH 0.37 mg/kg/week (control, n = 16), LB03002 0.5 mg/kg/week (n = 14), or LB03002 0.7 mg/kg/week (n = 16). The primary endpoint was height velocity (HV) change at week 26. RESULTS At week 26, the least square (LS) means for HV change (cm/year) with control, LB03002 0.5 mg/kg/week, and LB03002 0.7 mg/kg/week were 5.08, 3.65, and 4.38, and the LS means for the change in height standard deviation score were 0.65, 0.49, and 0.58, respectively. The lower bound of the 90% confidence interval for the difference between LB03002 0.7 mg/kg/week and the control in the LS mean for HV change (-1.72) satisfied the noninferiority margin (-1.75). Adverse events were generally mild and short-lived. CONCLUSION A once-weekly regimen of LB03002 0.7 mg/kg demonstrated noninferiority to the daily regimen of rhGH 0.37 mg/kg/week in terms of HV increments. LB03002 was well tolerated and its safety profile was comparable with that of daily rhGH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Soon Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Sang Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee-Hyoung Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Wook Yoo
- Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Yeol Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kyu Suh
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul Saint Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheol Woo Ko
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Yeong Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Kyu Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heon-Seok Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Song Han
- LG Chem, Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho-Seong Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Endocrinology, College of Medicine Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,*Ho-Seong Kim, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Endocrinology, College of Medicine Yonsei University, Seoul 03722 (Republic of Korea), E-Mail
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Growth hormone treatment for growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature: new guidelines shaped by the presence and absence of evidence. Curr Opin Pediatr 2017; 29:466-471. [PMID: 28525404 PMCID: PMC5565215 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000000505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The Pediatric Endocrine Society recently published new guidelines for the use of human growth hormone (hGH) and human insulin-like growth factor-I (hIGF-I) treatment for growth hormone deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and primary IGF-I deficiency in children and adolescents. This review places the new guidelines in historical contexts of the life cycle of hGH and the evolution of US health care, and highlights their future implications. RECENT FINDINGS The new hGH guidelines, the first to be created by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, are more conservative than their predecessors. They follow an extended period of hGH therapeutic expansion at a time when US health care is pivoting toward value-based practice. There are strong supporting evidence and general agreement regarding the restoration of hormonal normalcy in children with severe deficiency of growth hormone or hIGF-I. More complex are issues related to hGH treatment to increase growth rates and heights of otherwise healthy short children with either idiopathic short stature or 'partial' isolated idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. SUMMARY The guidelines-developing process revealed fundamental questions about hGH treatment that still need evidence-based answers. Unless and until such research is performed, a more restrained hGH-prescribing approach is appropriate.
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Feeling misguided: a comment on the US guidelines on growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I treatment in children and adolescents. Curr Opin Pediatr 2017; 29:472-474. [PMID: 28604412 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000000520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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