Response to Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Therapy in Libyan Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency in Misurata

Abstract

Recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) is used for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Children with growth hormone deficiency characterized by short stature. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of rhGH as a therapeutic intervention for treatment of children with GHD in Misurata following a year of therapy. Medical records of 174 GHD children attended the department of pediatric endocrinology in the Misrata Specialized Center for Diabetes and Endocrine. From June 2012 to January 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Among them 50 patients met the inclusion criteria of receiving the rhGH treatment for a year. The relevant anthropometric data at baseline and follow-up were recorded. A retrospective study that included 50 GHD children treated with rhGH was performed. Patients were divided into two groups according to treatment response: poor responders with average mean increase of height by < 3 cm/year and good responders with increase of height by ≥ 3 cm/year. Patients with idiopathic GHD constitute almost two-thirds of the pathogenesis of GHD (70 %). Forty-six patients (92%) showed good response (Δ height >3 cm after one year of therapy). The response to treatment were;  93%  in the age group 3-5 years old, and 83% in the age group 10-12 years. The mean difference in the growth rate was ∆HV = 5.163 cm/year after one year of rhGH therapy. Our study demonstrated that the use of rhGH for one year has an promising effect on increasing the height of patients diagnosed with GHD. We highly recommend the early use of rhGH in with GHD