GH and zinc treatments for short stature caused by steroid treatments in a young patient with autoimmune hepatitis (type 1).

An 8-yr-old boy with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (AiCAH) was treated with steroid hormones. Liver function improved with this treatment, but the patient's growth was severely disturbed. At the age of 10 y, GH treatment was added to the steroid therapy because of his short stature (height: -2.5 SD), but in the following 12 months, he only grew 2 cm. Oral administration of zinc (5 mg/kg/day) was also added to the patient's therapy, but his height has not improved in the 12 months of this combined therapy.