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Growth Hormone Treatment of the Non—Growth Hormone Deficient Child

Barry B. Bercu, MD

JAMA. 1996;276(7):567-568.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In this issue of The Journal, Cuttler et al¹ address the appropriateness of growth hormone (GH) therapy in short-statured children who are not GH deficient (non-GHD children). In a national postal survey of US pediatric endocrinologists (US members of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society), they evaluated the clinical practice of GH treatment of short stature. The study indicates that many pediatric endocrinologists prescribe GH for short stature conditions outside current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indications with precribing patterns driven by factors other than results of controlled trials, including family preferences, cost, and physician perception of the value of height and GH treatment.

See also p 531.

Pituitary-derived cadaveric GH has been used for the treatment of GH deficiency since 1958. Recombinant GH became available in 1985, allowing for an unlimited supply of somatotropin, and consideration of uses for other indications. In the United States, FDA-approved indications . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, St Petersburg.

Footnotes
Dr Bercu has received research support from Genentech Inc, Eli Lilly and Company, and Serono Laboratories Inc; honoraria from Genentech, Lilly, and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc; and educational grants from Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, all of which produce growth hormone.

Reprints: Barry B. Bercu, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, All Children's Hospital, 801 Sixth St S, St Petersburg, FL 33701.

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