Growth Hormone Withdrawal in Mid-Puberty: No Impact on Near Adult Height in Adolescents With Transient Idiopathic GHD - Summary - MDSpire

Growth Hormone Withdrawal in Mid-Puberty: No Impact on Near Adult Height in Adolescents With Transient Idiopathic GHD

  • By

  • Joeri Vliegenthart

  • Jan M Wit

  • Boudewijn Bakker

  • Annemieke M Boot

  • Christiaan de Bruin

  • Martijn J J Finken

  • Josine C van der Heyden

  • Anita C S Hokken-Koelega

  • Hetty J van der Kamp

  • Edgar G van Mil

  • Theo C J Sas

  • Dina A Schott

  • Petra van Setten

  • Saartje Straetemans

  • Vera van Tellingen

  • Robbert N H Touwslager

  • A S Paul van Trotsenburg

  • Paul G Voorhoeve

  • Edmond H H M Rings

  • Erica L T van den Akker

  • Danielle C M van der Kaay

  • November 15, 2025

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the effects of discontinuing recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment from mid-puberty on final height in adolescents with transient idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (IIGHD), highlighting the significance of treatment duration.

Key Findings:
  • Mean NAH-SDS minus TH-SDS was similar between GHcont (-0.17) and GHstop (-0.18) groups (P = .96), indicating no significant difference in final height potential.
  • Mean NAH-SDS was not significantly different between groups (GHcont: -0.91 vs GHstop: -0.78, P = .35), suggesting comparable outcomes.
  • Total pubertal growth in males was 27.5 cm (GHcont) vs 25.9 cm (GHstop, P = .25) and in females was 20.5 cm (GHcont) vs 20.9 cm (GHstop, P = .90), reflecting similar growth patterns.
  • Predicted vs attained height gain did not differ between groups, reinforcing the findings.
Interpretation:

The study suggests that discontinuing rhGH treatment at mid-puberty does not adversely affect final height in adolescents with transient IIGHD, supporting a reduction in treatment duration and its associated burdens.

Limitations:
  • The study design was not a randomized controlled trial, which may limit the robustness of the findings and introduce potential biases.
  • The sample size, while adequate, may not represent all cases of IIGHD, potentially affecting the generalizability of the results.
Conclusion:

In adolescents with transient IIGHD, rhGH treatment can be safely stopped at mid-puberty without negatively impacting final height, potentially reducing treatment burden and healthcare costs, which is significant for patient management.

Original Source(s)

Growth Hormone Withdrawal in Mid-Puberty: No Impact on Near Adult Height in Adolescents With Transient Idiopathic GHD

  • by Joeri Vliegenthart, Jan M Wit, Boudewijn Bakker, Annemieke M Boot, Christiaan de Bruin, Martijn J J Finken, Josine C van der Heyden, Anita C S Hokken-Koelega, Hetty J van der Kamp, Edgar G van Mil, Theo C J Sas, Dina A Schott, Petra van Setten, Saartje Straetemans, Vera van Tellingen, Robbert N H Touwslager, A S Paul van Trotsenburg, Paul G Voorhoeve, Edmond H H M Rings, Erica L T van den Akker, Danielle C M van der Kaay

  • November 15, 2025

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