Recombinant growth hormone. Other therapeutic scope

Abstract

The fact that nowadays the availability of the recombinant GH (rGH) is solely conditioned by financial criteria, permits a research of her further therapeutic indications. Thus, its possible usefulness dealing with constitutional short stature, prenatal dwarfisms and chronic renal failure is being reviewed.
Those cases of constitutional short stature are the most frequent cases but yet the least benefited from this recourse. Familial forms have a scanty response, whereas constitutional delays of growth and puberty have a more positive one. However, in the later, the vanning effect is very strong, so the existence in the long run of remarkable differences between this therapeutic treatment and the classic ones is difficult ro know in advance.
There is not enough experience about connatal undergrowth, apart from that of the Turner syndrome. Girls in such a case suffer from a progressive GH-deficiency with a moderate metaphysal plate resistance. From their school-age, they must be treated both with rGH and with an steroid (such as oxandrolone), thus improving their final adult height. Neither is there enough knowledge of organic chronic diseases. In the terminal renal stage, the situation best studied, the plight of the patients is coupled with their catastrophic growth, due ro their proved resistance to the GH. They need rGH treatment at a higher dose than usual.