Objective: The aim was to assess growth velocity (GV) during human recombinant growth hormone (hGH) treatment of children with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) caused by pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) and to analyze the characteristics of patients that attained normal adult heights.
Methods: Data from 74 (16 female) children with MPHD caused by PSIS with GH, thyroid stimulating hormone, gonadotropin and adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiencies were collected. Subjects were divided into groups: 12 pre-pubescent females (Female-Group) and 36 pre-pubescent males (Male-Group 1). The remaining 22 males were further sub-divided into two groups (Male-Group 2 and Male-Group 3) according to the initiation of gonadotropin replacement treatment, based on bone age and height.
Results: No differences in change in height standard deviation score (△HtSDS) and GV were observed at different time points of hGH treatment between the Female-Group and Male-Group 1 (p>0.05). GV was significantly greater in the first year of hGH therapy than in subsequent years: Female-Group p=0.011; Male-Group 1 p<0.001; Male-Group 2 p=0.005; and Male-Group 3 p=0.046. Adult height was achieved by 23 (19 males and 4 females) patients. The total gain in height positively correlated with the GV during the first year (r=0.626, p<0.001).
Conclusion: GV during hGH treatment were similar amongst pre-pubescent males and females with MPHD caused by PSIS. GV during the first year of hGH treatment appears to be an effective predictor of final height in patients with MPHD caused by PSIS.
Keywords: adult height; Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome; growth velocity; human growth hormone treatment.