Author/Editor		Kržišnik, C
Title		24 years of growth hormone treatment in Slovenia
Type		članek
Source		Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.		Letnik 63, št. Suppl 1
Publication year		1994
Volume		str. I-3-I-6
Language		eng
Abstract		Background. Treatment of pituitary dwarfism with human growth hormone (GH) started in Slovenia in 1969. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of therapy on the first patients treated with GH in the republic. Material and methods. Four out of 17 patients (15 boys, 2 girls) with isolated GH deficiency and 13 with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency were treated with GH and, if necessary, some other hormone- replacement therapy for at least 3 years. The age at the start of therapy was 10.7+-3.5 years. All patients were reexamined at the mean age of 23.1+-4.5 years, and 12 of them agreed to be interviewed regarding the quality of life. Auxological and some clinical characteristics of patients were analysed. Results. Height velocity 3.7+-0.8 cm per year before therapy increased during the first year of treatment to 8.3+-1.6 cm and decreased during first three years of therapy to 6.3+-1.1 cm. Height SD score at the beginning of therapy- 4.05+-1.2 improved significantly (p less th. 0.01) to - 1.75+-0.81 in adult age. The final height in males was 163.2+-5.7 cm, in females 151+-4.2 cm. The majority of patients had, despite relatively satisfactory final height, psychological problems like deficieney in self-image, poor adjustment and impaired social relationships. Conclusion. In first 17 patients trealed with GH in Slovenia, there were no side effects and the final height improved significantlly. In some cases psychological counselling or support had to be arranged.
Descriptors		DWARFISM, PITUITARY SOMATOTROPIN BODY HEIGHT