Long-Term Safety of Growth Hormone Treatment in Childhood: Two Large Observational Studies: NordiNet IOS and ANSWER

[Safety considerations for the clinical application of recombinant human growth hormone]

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is an effective therapeutic drug for improving short stature. Currently, rhGH can be used for various causes of short stature, including growth hormone deficiency, and the expansion of its clinical application has raised concerns about its safety. Based on existing evidence, when rhGH is used in a standardized manner for physiological replacement therapy, its safety profile is favorable. In clinical practice, attention should be focused on short-term safety during rhGH treatment, with the combination of literature evidence and clinical experience. There is still no definitive conclusion on the long-term safety due to insufficient duration of rhGH treatment. This paper reviews the possible adverse events that may occur during rhGH treatment and their risk control measures, aiming to help clinical physicians understand the overall safety of rhGH treatment and improve its clinical standardization.

Association of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 with Bone Mineral Density in Survivors of Childhood Acute Leukemia

In this study, we investigated bone mineral deficits in children who survived childhood acute leukemia and explored the association between the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and bone mineral density (BMD). This retrospective analysis enrolled 214 patients treated for acute leukemia, measuring various factors including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and lumbar spine BMD after the end of treatment. The study found an overall prevalence of low BMD in 15% of participants. Notably, IGF-1 levels were significantly different between patients with low BMD and those with normal BMD, and correlation analyses revealed associations of the IGF-1 level and BMI with lumbar spine BMD. Regression analyses further supported this relationship, suggesting that higher IGF-1 levels were associated with a decreased risk of low BMD. The study findings suggest that IGF-1 may serve as a valuable tool for evaluating and predicting osteoporosis in survivors of childhood acute leukemia.

Long-term risk of neoplastic events after childhood growth hormone treatment: a population-based cohort study in Sweden

Background

Increased risk of neoplastic events after recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in childhood has been an ongoing concern but long-term safety data are limited.

Methods

A nationwide population-based cohort study in Sweden of patients treated with rhGH during childhood between 1985-2010, due to isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD), small for gestational age (SGA) and idiopathic short stature (ISS). The comparison group consisted of 15 age-, sex-, and region-matched controls per patient, randomly selected from the general population. Data on neoplastic events and covariates, such as gestational age, birth weight, birth length, socioeconomic status, and height at study start, were collected through linkage with population-based registers. The cohort was followed for neoplastic events until the end of 2020.

Results

53,444 individuals (3,408 patients; 50,036 controls) were followed for up to 35 years, with a median follow-up of 19.8 years and a total of 1,050,977 person-years. Patients showed a moderately increased hazard ratio (HR) for neoplastic events overall compared to controls (HR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12-1.46), but only significant for males (HR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.17-1.66) and not females (HR 1.15, 95% CI: 0.94-1.41). Longer treatment duration was associated with an increased HR, but no association was found between neoplastic events and mean or cumulative dose. No increased risk of malignant neoplasms was observed for the patients compared to matched controls (HR 0.91 95% CI: 0.66-1.26).

Conclusion

No association was found between rhGH treatment during childhood for GHD, SGA, or ISS and malignant neoplastic events in early to mid-adulthood. A moderate increase in overall neoplastic events was observed due to an increased number of events in male patients.

Safety and Effectiveness of a Biosimilar Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in Children Requiring Growth Hormone Treatment: Analysis of Final Data from PATRO Children, an International, Post-Marketing Surveillance Study

Purpose

Omnitrope® (somatropin) was approved as a biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in 2006. Here, we report final data from the PAtients TReated with Omnitrope® (PATRO) Children study, a post-marketing surveillance study designed to monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of this treatment in pediatric patients.

Methods

The study population included all pediatric patients treated with Omnitrope® (biosimilar rhGH), administered via daily injection, in routine clinical practice. The primary objective was to assess long-term safety, with effectiveness assessed as a secondary objective.

Results

In total, 7359 patients were enrolled and treated in the PATRO Children study; 86.0% were treatment-naïve at baseline. Growth hormone deficiency was the most frequent indication (57.9%), followed by patients born small for gestational age (SGA; 26.6%). The mean (SD) duration of exposure to biosimilar rhGH was 3.66 years (2.39). A total of 16,628 adverse events (AEs) were reported in 3981 (54.1%) patients, most of which were mild/moderate. AEs suspected to be treatment related occurred in 8.3% of patients, most frequently headache (1.6%), injection-site pain (1.1%), or injection-site hematoma (1.1%). The incidence rate (IR) of type 2 diabetes mellitus was 0.11 per 1000 person-years (PY) across all patients, and 0.13 per 1000 PY in patients born SGA. The IR of newly diagnosed primary malignancies was 0.22 per 1000 PY across all patients. In the 6589 patients included in the effectiveness population, a sustained catch-up growth was observed across all indications. After 5 years of treatment, height SDS increased from baseline by a median (range) of +1.79 (-3.7 to 6.2) in treatment-naïve patients and +0.73 (-1.4 to 3.7) in pretreated patients.

Conclusion

This final analysis of the PATRO Children study indicates that biosimilar rhGH is well tolerated and effective in real-world clinical practice. These data are consistent with the well-characterized safety profile of rhGH treatment in pediatric patients.

The Treatment of Growth Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence

BACKGROUND

3% of all children are unusually short, and 3% are unusually tall. New approaches have broadened the range of therapeutic options in treating growth disorders.

METHODS

This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective review of the literature and on the authors' clinical experience.

RESULTS

Pituitary growth hormone deficiency is treated with recombinant growth hormone. Long-acting preparations of this type became available recently, but their long-term safety and efficacy are still unknown. Vosoritide, a CNP analogue, has also been approved for the treatment of achondroplasia, and severe primary deficiency of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) can be treated with recombinant IGF-1. In the treatment of excessively tall stature, new information on the safety of growth-attenuating treatment and an altered perception of above-average height in society have led to a change in management.

CONCLUSION

There are new options for the treatment of rare causes of short stature, while new information on the safety of treatment strategies for excessive tallness have led to a reconsideration of surgical intervention. There is insufficient evidence on the benefits and risks of supraphysiological GH therapy and of newer treatment options for which there are as yet no robust data on adult height. Therefore, before any treatment is provided, physicians should give patients and their families detailed information and discuss their expectations from treatment and the goals that treatment can be expected to achieve.

Growth Hormone Treatment for Non-GHD Disorders: Excitement Tempered by Biology

The success of growth hormone (GH) replacement in children with classical GH deficiency has led to excitement that other causes of short stature may benefit similarly. However, clinical experience has shown less consistent and generally less dramatic effects on adult height, perhaps not surprising in light of increased understanding of GH and growth plate biology. Nonetheless, clinical demand for GH treatment continues to grow. Upon the 20th anniversary of the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of GH treatment for idiopathic short stature, this review will consider the factors underlying the expansion of GH treatment, the biological mechanisms of GH action, the non-GH-deficient uses of GH as a height-promoting agent, biological constraints to GH action, and future directions.

Safety of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Childhood-Onset Craniopharyngioma: A Systematic Review and Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Survival of childhood-onset craniopharyngioma (cCP) is excellent; however, many survivors suffer from hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) is of high importance for linear growth and metabolic outcome. Optimal timing for initiation of GHRT in cCP is on debate because of concerns regarding tumor progression or recurrence.

METHODS

A systematic review and cohort studys were performed for the effect and timing of GHRT on overall mortality, tumor progression/recurrence, and secondary tumors in cCP. Within the cohort, cCP receiving GHRT ≤1 year after diagnosis were compared to those receiving GHRT >1 year after diagnosis.

RESULTS

Evidence of 18 included studies, reporting on 6,603 cCP with GHRT, suggests that GHRT does not increase the risk for overall mortality, progression, or recurrent disease. One study evaluated timing of GHRT and progression/recurrence-free survival and found no increased risk with earlier initiation. One study reported a higher than expected prevalence of secondary intracranial tumors compared to a healthy population, possibly confounded by radiotherapy. In our cohort, 75 of 87 cCP (86.2%) received GHRT for median of 4.9 years [0.0-17.1]. No effect of timing of GHRT was found on mortality, progression/recurrence-free survival, or secondary tumors.

CONCLUSION

Although the quality of the evidence is low, the available evidence suggests no effect of GHRT or its timing on mortality, tumor progression/recurrence, or secondary neoplasms in cCP. These results support early initiation of GHRT in cCP aiming to optimize linear growth and metabolic outcome. Prospective studies are needed to increase the level of evidence upon the optimal timing to start GHRT in cCP patients.

Treatment burden, adherence, and quality of life in children with daily GH treatment in France

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to describe in a real-life setting the treatment burden and adherence and quality of life (QOL) of children treated with daily injections of growth hormone and their relationship with treatment duration.

DESIGN

This non-interventional, multicenter, cross-sectional French study involved children aged 3-17 years treated with daily growth hormone injections.

METHODS

Based on a recent validated dyad questionnaire, the mean overall life interference total score (100 = most interference) was described, with treatment adherence and QOL, using the Quality of Life of Short Stature Youth questionnaire (100 = best). All analyses were performed according to treatment duration prior to inclusion.

RESULTS

Among the 275/277 analyzed children, 166 (60.4%) had only growth hormone deficiency (GHD). In the GHD group, the mean age was 11.7 ± 3.2 years; median treatment duration was 3.3 years (interquartile range 1.8-6.4). The mean overall life interference total score was 27.7 ± 20.7 (95% CI (24.2; 31.2)), with non-significant correlation with treatment duration (P = 0.1925). Treatment adherence was good (95.0% of children reported receiving >80% of planned injections over the last month); it slightly decreased with treatment duration (P = 0.0364). Children's overall QOL was good (81.5 ± 16.6 and 77.6 ± 18.7 according to children and parents, respectively), but subscores of the coping and treatment impact domains were <50. Similar results were observed in all patients independently of the condition requiring treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This real-life French cohort confirms the treatment burden of daily growth hormone injections, as previously reported in an interventional study.

Growth hormone treatment and the risk of adolescent scoliosis: A large matched cohort study

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the risk of developing adolescent scoliosis among recipients of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH).

METHODS

This registry-based cohort study included 1314 individuals who initiated rhGH treatment since 2013, treated during 10-18 years of age for at least 6 months. This group was matched to a comparison group of 6570 individuals not treated with rhGH. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the electronic database. The results are presented using hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 59 (4.5%) rhGH recipients and 141 individuals (2.1%) from the comparison group were diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis. The age at diagnosis did not differ between the groups (14.7 versus 14.3 years, p = 0.095). Patients treated with rhGH were more likely diagnosed with scoliosis (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.55-2.88, p < 0.001). Among males, the risk was about three times greater in the treated versus the comparison group (HR 3.15, 95% CI 2.12-4.68, p < 0.001), while in females the risk was not increased (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.72-2.04, p = 0.469).

CONCLUSIONS

Recombinant human growth hormone treatment was associated with an increased risk to be diagnosed with adolescent scoliosis in males. Scoliosis development should be monitored appropriately in rhGH recipients.

Growth hormone and gastrointestinal malignancy: An intriguing link

Growth hormone (GH) excess is associated with several systemic complications, one of which is the increased risk of neoplastic processes particularly of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Among the GI neoplasms, the most reported association is with benign and malignant neoplasms of the colon. In the majority of published literature, an increased incidence of GI neoplasms, both colonic adenomas as well as colorectal carcinoma is reported. However, the studies on colon cancer-specific mortality rate are conflicting with recent studies reporting similar cancer-specific mortality rates in comparison to controls. Many studies have reported an association of colorectal neoplasms with GH levels. Pathogenic mechanisms put forward to explain this association of GH excess and GI neoplasms primarily involve the increased GH-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling. Both GH and IGF-1 have proliferative, anti-apoptotic, and angiogenic effects on the systemic tissues leading to cellular proliferation. Other contributing factors to the increased risk of GI neoplasms include slow intestinal transit with a redundant large bowel, altered bile acids, deranged local immune response, shared genetic susceptibility factors and hyperinsulinemia. In view of the increased risk association, most guidelines for the care of acromegaly patients recommend an initial screening colonoscopy. Recommendations for further follow-up colonoscopy differ but broadly, the guidelines agree that it depends on the findings at first colonoscopy and state of remission of GH excess. Regarding the concern about the risk of colorectal cancers in patients receiving recombinant GH therapy, most cohort studies do not show an increased risk.

Psychometric Validation of the Growth Hormone Deficiency-Child Treatment Burden Measure (GHD-CTB) and the Growth Hormone Deficiency-Parent Treatment Burden Measure (GHD-PTB)

PURPOSE

The aim was to evaluate the measurement properties of the Growth Hormone Deficiency-Child Treatment Burden Measure-Child (GHD-CTB-Child), a patient-reported outcome (PRO) for children aged 9 to < 13 years; the Growth Hormone Deficiency-Child Treatment Burden Measure-Observer (GHD-CTB-Observer), an observer-reported outcome (ObsRO) version completed by parents/guardians of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) aged 4 to < 9 years; and the Growth Hormone Deficiency-Parent Treatment Burden Measure (GHD-PTB), a PRO that assesses the treatment burden of parents/guardians living with children with GHD aged 4 to < 13 years.

METHODS

A non-interventional, multi-center, clinic-based study across 30 private practice and large institutional sites in the United States and the United Kingdom was conducted. The sample consisted of 145 pre-pubertal children aged 9 to < 13 years at enrollment with a physician confirmed GHD diagnosis as well as 98 parents/guardians of pre-pubertal younger children aged 4 to < 9 years at enrollment with a physician confirmed GHD diagnosis. The child sample consisted of 59 treatment-naïve children (no prior exposure to growth hormone [GH] therapy; were starting GH treatment at study start per standard of care) and 184 children already maintained on treatment for at least 6 months. At baseline, all study participants completed a paper validation battery including all measures needed to conduct the validation analyses. Follow-up assessments with children in the maintenance group and their caregiver/parent were conducted approximately 2 weeks post-baseline to evaluate test-retest reproducibility. To evaluate sensitivity to change and meaningful change thresholds, treatment-naïve participants in both child and parent/guardian populations were assessed within 1 week of report of minimal improvement between week 3 and week 11 and at week 12. Psychometric analyses were implemented following an a priori statistical analysis plan.

RESULTS

Factor analyses confirmed the a priori conceptual domains and Overall score for each measure (GHD-CTB-Child and GHD-CTB-Observer domains: Physical, Emotional Well-being, and Interference; GHD-PTB domains: Emotional Well-being and Interference). Internal consistency was acceptable for all measures (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70). Test-retest reliability was acceptable for the Physical, Emotional, and Overall domains of the GHD-CTB versions, and the Emotional and Overall domains of the GHD-PTB (intraclass correlation coefficient above 0.70). All but one of the convergent validity hypotheses for the GHD-CTB versions and all hypotheses for the GHD-PTB were proven (r > 0.40). Known-groups validity hypotheses were significant for length of time to administer the injections in the GHD-CTB versions (p < 0.001 for Physical, Emotional, and Overall, and p < 0.01 for Interference) and whether parents/guardians versus child gave the injections more often for the Emotional domain of the GHD-PTB (p < 0.05). Associated effect sizes ranged from -0.27 to -0.57 for GHD-CTB versions and from -0.74 to -0.69 for the GHD-PTB, indicating that the measures are sensitive to change. Anchor-based patient and parent/guardian ratings of severity suggest preliminary meaningful change thresholds (GHD-CTB: 6 points for Physical score, 9 for Emotional, and 6 for Interference; GHD-PTB: 10 points for Emotional and 6 for Interference scores).

CONCLUSIONS

The psychometric properties of the GHD-CTB-Child, GHD-CTB-Observer, and GHD-PTB support the validity of their use as PRO and ObsRO measures to capture the experiences associated with treatment burden for children with GHD and their parents/guardians in both clinical and research settings. The Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT02580032 was first posted October 20, 2015.

Increase of serum lipoprotein (a), an adverse effect of growth hormone treatment

A number of reports show that high endogenous, or therapeutic administration of human growth hormone (hGH) cause an increase of serum lipoprotein a, Lp(a). Being thrombogenic Lp(a) is an independent risk factor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Hence, it is hypothesized that the recently reported association between childhood hGH treatment and cardiovascular morbidity is probably due to the GH effect on Lp(a) synthesis. It is therefore suggested to determine serum Lp(a) levels before and during hGH treatment in children and adults.

Safety and Efficacy of Pediatric Growth Hormone Therapy: Results From the Full KIGS Cohort

CONTEXT

The Kabi/Pfizer International Growth Database (KIGS) is a large, international database (1987-2012) of children treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in real-world settings.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of rhGH from the full KIGS cohort.

METHODS

Data were collected by investigators from children with growth disorders treated with rhGH (Genotropin [somatropin]; Pfizer). Safety was evaluated in all treated patients, and efficacy in those treated for 1 year or more. A subgroup included patients treated for 5 years or more (≥ 2 years prepubertal) who had reached near-adult height (NAH). Main outcomes included adverse events (AEs), serious AEs (SAEs), and height growth.

RESULTS

The full KIGS cohort (N = 83 803 [58% male]) was treated for idiopathic GH deficiency (IGHD; 46.9%), organic GHD (10.0%), small for gestational age (SGA; 9.5%), Turner syndrome (TS; 9.2%), idiopathic short stature (ISS; 8.2%), and others (16.2%). Median rhGH treatment duration was 2.7 years and observation 3.1 years. SAEs occurred in 3.7% of patients and death in 0.4%. The most common SAEs were recurrence of craniopharyngioma (n = 151), neoplasm (n = 99), and cancer (n = 91); and scoliosis (n = 91). Median first-year delta height-SD score (SDS) (Prader) in prepubertal patients was 0.66 (IGHD), 0.55 (ISS), 0.58 (TS), and 0.71 (SGA). Median gains in NAH-SDS were 1.79 (IGHD), 1.37 (ISS), and 1.34 (SGA) for boys, and 2.07 (IGHD), 1.62 (ISS), 1.07 (TS), and 1.57 (SGA) for girls.

CONCLUSION

Data from KIGS, the largest and longest running international database of rhGH-treated children, show that rhGH is safe and increases short-term height gain and adult height across GHD and non-GHD conditions.

Challenges in the growth and development of newborns with extra-uterine growth restriction

INTRODUCTION

Extra-uterine growth restriction (EUGR) is a condition caused by the failure of very preterm infants to reach their potential growth during the NICU hospital stay. Despite enormous improvements in nutritional support and strategies, the growth pattern of preterm infants is still far from the one expected.

AREAS COVERED

This review focuses on what EUGR is, highlighting controversial aspects of this topic. EUGR is still missing a univocal definition, and the international debate is also open on what is the best growth chart to use. Moreover, professionals in NICU may not be trained on how to perform anthropometric measurements, increasing the risk of over- or underestimation, especially for length assessment. EUGR has recently been described as one of the main comorbidities in NICU, influencing growth, metabolism, and neurodevelopment later in life.

EXPERT OPINION

There is still much to investigate about what the best growth pattern in the NICU should be. What is known so far is that the majority of preterm neonates develop EUGR, and this leads to several short- and long-term consequences. It is imperative that neonatologists and pediatric endocrinologists work together, to modulate growth in the NICU.

Long-term Safety of Growth Hormone in Adults With Growth Hormone Deficiency: Overview of 15 809 GH-Treated Patients

CONTEXT

Data on long-term safety of growth hormone (GH) replacement in adults with GH deficiency (GHD) are needed.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the safety of GH in the full KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) cohort.

METHODS

The worldwide, observational KIMS study included adults and adolescents with confirmed GHD. Patients were treated with GH (Genotropin [somatropin]; Pfizer, NY) and followed through routine clinical practice. Adverse events (AEs) and clinical characteristics (eg, lipid profile, glucose) were collected.

RESULTS

A cohort of 15 809 GH-treated patients were analyzed (mean follow-up of 5.3 years). AEs were reported in 51.2% of patients (treatment-related in 18.8%). Crude AE rate was higher in patients who were older, had GHD due to pituitary/hypothalamic tumors, or adult-onset GHD. AE rate analysis adjusted for age, gender, etiology, and follow-up time showed no correlation with GH dose. A total of 606 deaths (3.8%) were reported (146 by neoplasms, 71 by cardiac/vascular disorders, 48 by cerebrovascular disorders). Overall, de novo cancer incidence was comparable to that in the general population (standard incidence ratio 0.92; 95% CI, 0.83-1.01). De novo cancer risk was significantly lower in patients with idiopathic/congenital GHD (0.64; 0.43-0.91), but similar in those with pituitary/hypothalamic tumors or other etiologies versus the general population. Neither adult-onset nor childhood-onset GHD was associated with increased de novo cancer risks. Neutral effects were observed in lipids/fasting blood glucose levels.

CONCLUSION

These final KIMS cohort data support the safety of long-term GH replacement in adults with GHD as prescribed in routine clinical practice.

Approach to the Patient: Safety of Growth Hormone Replacement in Children and Adolescents

The use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in children and adolescents has expanded since its initial approval to treat patients with severe GH deficiency (GHD) in 1985. rhGH is now approved to treat several conditions associated with poor growth and short stature. Recent studies have raised concerns that treatment during childhood may affect morbidity and mortality in adulthood, with specific controversies over cancer risk and cerebrovascular events. We will review 3 common referrals to a pediatric endocrinology clinic, followed by a summary of short- and long-term effects of rhGH beyond height outcomes. Methods to mitigate risk will be reviewed. Finally, this information will be applied to each clinical case, highlighting differences in counseling and clinical outcomes. rhGH therapy has been used for more than 3 decades. Data are largely reassuring, yet we still have much to learn about pharmaceutical approaches to growth in children and the lifelong effect of treatment.

The Year in Growth and Short Stature

The papers and communications selected here, published in 2020-2021, report major advances in pathophysiology, diagnostics, treatment and patient care in the fields of growth hormones and disorders. © 2022 French Society of Pediatrics. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Growth Hormone Deficiency and Treatment in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a common pituitary hormone deficiency in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). The identification, diagnosis, and treatment of those individuals at risk are important in order to minimize associated morbidities that can be ameliorated by treatment with recombinant human GH therapy. However, GH and insulin-like growth factor-I have been implicated in tumorigenesis, so there has been concern over the use of GH therapy in patients with a history of malignancy. Reassuringly, GH therapy has not been shown to increase risk of tumor recurrence. These patients have an increased risk for development of meningiomas, but this may be related to their history of cranial irradiation rather than to GH therapy. In this review, we detail the CCS who are at risk for GHD and the existing evidence on the safety profile of GH therapy in this patient population.

Effectiveness and Overall Safety of NutropinAq® for Growth Hormone Deficiency and Other Paediatric Growth Hormone Disorders: Completion of the International Cooperative Growth Study, NutropinAq® European Registry (iNCGS)

Objective

The International Cooperative Growth Study, NutropinAq® European Registry (iNCGS) (NCT00455728) monitored long-term safety and effectiveness of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; NutropinAq® [somatropin]) in paediatric growth disorders.

Methods

Open-label, non-interventional, post-marketing surveillance study recruiting children with growth disorders. Endpoints included gain in height standard deviation score (SDS), adult height, and occurrence of adverse events (AEs).

Results

2792 patients were enrolled. 2082 patients (74.6%) had growth hormone deficiency (GHD), which was isolated idiopathic in 1825 patients (87.7%). Non-GHD diagnoses included Turner syndrome (TS) (n=199), chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) (n=10), other non-GHD (n=498), and missing data for three participants. Improvements from baseline height SDS occurred at all time points to Month 132, and in all subgroups by disease aetiology. At Month 12, mean (95% CI) change in height SDS by aetiology was: idiopathic GHD 0.63 (0.61;0.66), organic GHD 0.71 (0.62;0.80), TS 0.59 (0.53; 0.65), CRI 0.54 (-0.49;1.56), and other non-GHD 0.64 (0.59;0.69). Mean height ( ± SD) at the last visit among the 235 patients with adult or near-adult height recorded was 154.0 cm ( ± 8.0) for girls and 166.7 cm ( ± 8.0) for boys. The most frequent biological and clinical non-serious drug-related AEs were increased insulin-like growth factor concentrations (314 events) and injection site haematoma (99 events). Serious AEs related to rhGH according to investigators were reported (n=30); the most frequent were scoliosis (4 events), epiphysiolysis (3 events), and strabismus (2 events).

Conclusions

There was an improvement in mean height SDS in all aetiology subgroups after rhGH treatment. No new safety concerns were identified.

Short and Long-Term Effects of Growth Hormone in Children and Adolescents With GH Deficiency

The syndrome of impaired GH secretion (GH deficiency) in childhood and adolescence had been identified at the end of the 19^th century. Its non-acquired variant (naGHD) is, at childhood onset, a rare syndrome of multiple etiologies, predominantly characterized by severe and permanent growth failure culminating in short stature. It is still difficult to diagnose GHD and, in particular, to ascertain impaired GH secretion in comparison to levels in normally-growing children. The debate on what constitutes an optimal diagnostic process continues. Treatment of the GH deficit via replacement with cadaveric pituitary human GH (pit-hGH) had first been demonstrated in 1958, and opened an era of therapeutic possibilities, albeit for a limited number of patients. In 1985, the era of recombinant hGH (r-hGH) began: unlimited supply meant that substantial long-term experience could be gained, with greater focus on efficacy, safety and costs. However, even today, the results of current treatment regimes indicate that there is still a substantial fraction of children who do not achieve adult height within the normal range. Renewed evaluation of height outcomes in childhood-onset naGHD is required for a better understanding of the underlying causes, whereby the role of various factors - diagnostics, treatment modalities, mode of treatment evaluation - during the important phases of child growth - infancy, childhood and puberty - are further explored.

Clinicians' Feedback on Patient/Carer Experience After Switching of Growth Hormone Treatment in Pediatric Patients During COVID-19

PURPOSE

This study investigated why some clinicians switched growth hormone (GH) brands in pediatric patients with GH-related disorders to Norditropin^® since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinicians' perceptions of the results, and whether observations from this period of disruption could inform clinical practice in the future.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinicians (N=106) from the UK, France, Italy, and Japan who had switched at least one patient to Norditropin^® from a GH therapy manufactured by a different pharmaceutical company between February and November 2020 participated. They completed an online survey and submitted patient report forms for up to three switched patients.

RESULTS

Since the start of COVID-19, 39-54% of the reported consultations were virtual (ie, via telephone or online means) in the UK, France, and Italy. Overall, 17% of patients seen by respondents in the survey were switched to a different GH brand; approximately two-thirds of switches were to Norditropin^®. Clinicians' top considerations in choosing a GH brand were patient/carer feedback, patient support programs, and the need for easy-to-use therapies in the context of virtual consultations. The top reasons for switching patients to Norditropin^® included ease of use, device features and benefits, better patient/carer feedback, and ease of training in device use via virtual consultations. Norditropin^® was considered suitable for use in virtual or in-person consultations or a mixture of both. Based on patient/carer feedback, 66% of clinicians believed that patients preferred Norditropin^® to their previous therapy in terms of overall satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

In this survey, key considerations in prescribing GH therapy were ease of use and acceptability to patients and carers. If virtual consultations increasingly replace in-person ones, ease in training patients/carers in device use will be particularly important. A majority of clinicians considered that their patients preferred Norditropin^® to their previous therapy.