Efficacy of recombinant growth hormone therapy in children born small for gestational age (SGA): a retrospective analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) present with a birth weight or length below -2 standard deviations (SD) relative to population norms for gestational age and sex. In Poland, such patients are eligible for recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy reimbursed by the National Health Fund.

AIM: To retrospectively assess the effectiveness of rhGH therapy in children diagnosed with SGA based on clinical data from 39 patients treated with rhGH between 2016 and 2025.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Anthropometric data were analysed at therapy initiation and completion. Treatment duration and changes in height and weight SD score (SDS) were evaluated. The influence of age at treatment initiation and sex on therapy outcomes was also assessed.

RESULTS

The mean treatment duration was 3 years and 9 months. The average annual height gain was 6.9 cm/year and weight gain 5.3 kg/year. Boys showed a significantly higher annual height gain than girls (p = 0.013), while weight gain differences were not significant (p = 0.08). An improvement in both height and weight SDS was observed across all age groups, with the most pronounced benefits among children who began therapy before the age of 10 years. The most frequent reason for treatment discontinuation was reduced growth velocity.

CONCLUSIONS

rhGH therapy in children born SGA is effective and safe, resulting in an improvement in growth parameters. The best outcomes are achieved when treatment is initiated in early childhood. The therapy is safe when accompanied by appropriate metabolic monitoring.