No abstract

Acute and long-term responsiveness to human growth hormone (HGH) has been studied in 25 short children. Five had hypopituitarism; 10 had no demonstrable endocrinopathy; 4 were above the 97th percentile for weight but below the 3rd percentile for height; and 6 were small-for-date. When treated with thyroid hormone as well as HGH, 4 of the 5 hypopituitary patients grew significantly. However, 7 of the nonhypopituitary patients with normal or high levels of endogenous HGH (35%) also grew with HGH treatment. Prior to HGH treatment, this group grew at an average rate of 3.4 cm/yr; with HGH, this rate increased to 8.8 cm/yr. Acute responses to HGH did not correlate well with long-term response. Reassessment of the criteria used to select patients for treatment is discussed. Speculation