[Clinical predictors of growth response in the first year of treatment with a fixed dose of growth hormone in children born small for gestational age].

OBJECTIVE To identify clinical predictors associated with catch-up growth in the first year of treatment with somatropin (rhGH) in a group of children born small for gestational age (SGA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Thirty nine children who have been on rhGH therapy for at least one year (0.33 mg/kg/week) were evaluated. The clinical parameters analyzed were chronological age (CA), bone age (BA), target height and standard deviations scores (SDS) of birth weight and length, height, weight and growth rate. RESULTS rhGH therapy was associated with a first year height increment of 0.67 SDS (p < 0.01). BA and birth weight SDS were predictive of growth response, with statistical difference in height SDS variation between prepubertal and pubertal subgroups (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION These data show a significant growth response with a fixed rhGH dose, those children who started rhGH in prepubertal ages presented the best outcomes.