Evaluation of Growth Hormone Results in Different Diagnosis and Trend Over 10 Year of Follow-up: A Single Center Experience

Objective We aimed to evaluate the results of diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of the patients who recieved growth hormone (GH) treatment for the last 10 years and to determine the differences in the process and results over the years. Methods Anthropometric, clinical, laboratory data, treatment adherence and side effects were evaluated retrospectively in 767 patients who recieved GH treatment between 2009-2018. Patients were grouped as isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD), multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD), small for gestational age (SGA), Turner syndrome (TS) according to their diagnosis. Results GH treatment was started in 689 cases(89.8%) with IGHD, 24(3.1%) with MPHD, 26(3.4%) with SGA and 28(3.7%) with TS. Median age of GH treatment onset was the earliest on SGA (8.4years) while and the latest on IGHD group (12.0years). At the time of treatment offset, height standard deviation score (SDS) in IGHD and MPHD were significantly higher than treatment onset time, whereas there was no significant difference in TS and SGA. One hundred eighty-nine cases reached the final height. Final heights for girls/boys were respectively in IGHD:154/164.9cm, MPHD:156.2/163.5cm; TS:146.7cm, SGA:145.7/-cm. Target height SDS-Final Height SDS median values were IGHD:0.2, MPHD:0.6, SGA:0.5, TS:2.4 respectively in groups. Conclusions In our cohort, GH treatment onset age was late and no differences have been observed in the last 10 years. The improvement in the height SDS was seen most in the IGHD and MPHD groups, the least in the TS and SGA groups, the patients' treatment compliance was high (92%) and the incidence of side effects was low (2.7%).