lhrh--ala(6)-gly(10)-ethylamide- and Fetal-Growth-Retardation

Experiments of nature and clinical observations have provided indications that postponing puberty may increase final height in short children. In children with central precocious puberty, a GnRH analog (GnRHa) alone is efficacious in increasing final height, but in other conditions a combination of growth hormone (GH) and GnRHa is needed. In GH-deficient children with early onset of puberty and poor height prediction, the combination of GH and GnRHa increases final height by 1.0-1.3 s.d. In children with idiopathic short stature and persistent short stature after intrauterine growth retardation, the combination also appears to be beneficial. Potential side effects include weight gain, a negative effect on bone mineralization, and psychosocial consequences. More data on long-term safety have to be collected before the combination of GH and GnRHa in children with idiopathic short stature should be considered for clinical use outside clinical trials.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Body Height; Body Weight; Calcification, Physiologic; Child; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fetal Growth Retardation; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Puberty; Puberty, Precocious; Weight Gain