Table 2.
Comparison between prepubertal and pubertal children at baseline and within the first two years of GH treatment
| Parameters | Prepubertal | Pubertal | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| At baseline: | |||
| Number of patients | 92 | 25 | |
| Age (years) | 8.7 ±3.0 | 13.8 ±1.8 | < 0.001 |
| GH max (ng/ml) | 7.36 ±1.78 | 7.34 ±1.83 | NS |
| Bone age (years) | 6.3 ±2.84 | 12.3 ±1.66 | < 0.001 |
| Height SDS | –2.6 ±0.59 | –2.4 ±0.41 | NS |
| Weight SDS for height-age | –0.4 (–0.8-0.2) | 0.0 (–0.5-0.5) | NS |
| BMI SDS for height-age | –0.45 (–1.0-0.3) | 0.0 (–0.6-1.1) | < 0.05 |
| HV (cm/year) | 4.9 ±1.3 | 5.6 ±1.46 | < 0.05 |
| IGF-1 SDS for bone age | –0.27 (–0.76-0.47) | –0.39 (–1.25-0.04) | NS |
| TSH (µIU/ml) | 1.8 (1.32-2.46) | 1.71 (1.46-2.13) | NS |
| fT4 (ng/dl) | 1.04 (0.97-1.12) | 0.93 (0.87-1.02) | < 0.001 |
| After 6 months: | |||
| Number of patients | 92 | 25 | |
| Height SDS | –2.3 ±0.56*** | –2.2 ±0.44 | NS |
| Weight SDS for height-age | –0.4 (–0.6-0.0) | –0.2 (–0.5-0.7) | NS |
| BMI SDS for height-age | –0.5 (–0.8-0.0) | –0.2 (–0.6-1.0) | NS |
| IGF-1 SDS for bone age | 2.1 (0.72-4.89)** | 1.85 (1.09-3.03)* | NS |
| TSH (µIU/ml) | 1.89 (1.34-2.33) | 1.81 (1.31-1.95) | NS |
| fT4 (ng/dl) | 0.99 (0.92-1.05)** | 0.87 (0.84-0.92) | < 0.001 |
| After first year: | |||
| Number of patients | 92 | 25 | |
| Bone age (years) | 7.9 ±3.1 | 13.5 ±1.21 | < 0.001 |
| Height SDS | –2.0 ±0.59*** | –1.8 ±0.5*** | NS |
| Weight SDS for height-age | –0.3 (–0.6-0.0) | –0.2 (–0.5-0.6) | NS |
| BMI SDS for height-age | –0.4 (–0.8-0.1) | –0.2 (–0.6-0.9) | NS |
| HV (cm/year) | 9.0 ±1.4*** | 9.3 ±1.9*** | NS |
| IGF-1 SDS for bone age | 1.55 (0.82-2.89)** | 3.26 (0.33-4.55)** | NS |
| TSH (µIU/ml) | 2.01 (1.67-2.8)** | 1.56 (1.19-2.01) | < 0.01 |
| fT4 (ng/dl) | 0.99 (0.9-1.07)** | 0.87 (0.79-0.93) | < 0.001 |
| Mean GH doses in the first year (mg/kg/week) | 0.180 ±0.01 | 0.194 ±0.01 | < 0.001 |
| After second year: | |||
| Number of patients | 74 | 14 | |
| Bone age (years) | 9.1 ±2.9 | 14.5 ±0.64 | < 0.001 |
| Height SDS | –1.7 ±0.58*** | –1.1 ±0.56*** | < 0.001 |
| Weight SDS for height-age | –0.3 (–0.5-0.0) | –0.2 (–0.5-0.2) | NS |
| BMI SDS for height-age | –0.4 (–0.7-0.1) | –0.25 (–0.6-0.4) | NS |
| HV (cm/year) | 7.6 ±1.35*** | 7.5 ±2.06* | NS |
| IGF-1 SDS for bone age | 2.13 (0.65-3.45)** | 3.63 (–0.23-7.0)** | NS |
| TSH (µIU/ml) | 1.79 (1.39-2.21) | 1.18 (0.94-1.66) | < 0.05 |
| fT4 (ng/dl) | 0.94 (0.87-1.03)** | 0.88 (0.82-0.97) | NS |
| Mean GH doses in the second year (mg/kg/week) | 0.182 ±0.02 | 0.204 ±0.02 | < 0.001 |
| Mean GH doses in the first two years (mg/kg/week) | 0.181 ±0.01 | 0.2 ±0.02 | < 0.001 |
Data are presented as mean ±standard deviation (SD) or median with interquartile range as appropriate. NS – not significant
*
p < 0.05 vs. baseline value
**
p < 0.01 vs. baseline value
***
p < 0.001 vs. baseline value; GH – growth hormone; GH max – maximum growth hormone release; SDS – standard deviation score; BMI – body mass index; HV – height velocity; IGF-1 – insulin-like growth factor-1; TSH – thyroid-stimulating hormone; fT4 – free thyroxine