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Collaborative Study of the Effects of Human Growth Hormone in Growth Hormone Deficiency: IV. Treatment with Low Doses of Human Growth Hormone Based on Body Weight

Department of Pediatrics, University of Southern California School of Medicine Los Angeles, California
University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota
State University of New York Buffalo, New York
Department of Radiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine Los Angeles, California

Address for reprints: S. D. Frasier, Pediatric Pavilion, CD 4E8, 1129 North State Street, Los Angeles, Ca. 90033.

In order to define the minimum effective dose of human growth hormone (GH) in growth hormone deficient children, GH was administered to three groups of patients based on their body weight. Five children who received 0.01 International Unit (IU) GH/kg three times a week (tiw) failed to respond with a significant increase in their rate of growth. A dose of 0.03 IU GH/kg tiw increased the growth rate of 12 patients from 3.5±0.4 (SE) cm/year to 6.4 ±0.4 (SE) cm/year (P < 0.001) during the first 12 months of therapy. Eight children (67%) grew 6.0 cm/year. A similar increase growth rate from 3.6 ± 0.4 (SE) cm/year to 7.3 ± 0.4 (SE) cm/year (P < 0.001) was observed over the first 12 months of therapy in 16 growth hormone deficient children who were given 0.06 IU GH/kg tiw. Thirteen children (81%) grew 6.0 cm /year. During a second year of treatment, children receiving either 0.03 or 0.06 IU GH/kg tiw again showed a significant increase in their rate of growth. However, the response was significantly less than that observed during the first year of treatment. Comparison of these results with those available in the literature suggests that the most efficient, although not necessarily the optimal, initial dose of GH in children with growth hormone deficiency is 0.06 IU GH/kg administered three times a week.

Supported by grants from the Human Growth Foundation, the Variety Club of Buffalo, Inc., Trans World Airlines Clipped Wings International and USPHS General Research Support Grant to the Professional Staff Association of Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center (Project 8–142).

Received March 26, 1976.

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