Identifying patient-related predictors of permanent growth hormone deficiency

ObjectiveIsolated childhood growth hormone deficiency (GHD) can persist into adulthood, and re-testing at the transition period is needed to determine whether continued growth hormone therapy is indicated. Here, our objective was to identify predictors of permanent GHD.DesignRetrospective single-centre study of patients with childhood-onset GHD who were re-tested after adult height attainment.MethodsAuxological, clinical, laboratory, and MRI data throughout follow-up were collected.ResultsWe included 101 patients. At GH treatment initiation, age was 8.1 ± 0.4 years, height -2.25 ± 0.8, and BMI -0.27 ± 0.1 SDS. The 29 (28.7%) patients with persistent GHD had lower height SDS (-2.57 ± 0.1 vs. -2.11 ± 0.1, p