Authors' objectives:

This report aims to assess the effectiveness of human growth hormone (HGH) for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS).

Authors' recommendations: Growth Hormone therapy is both the standard of practice and FDA approved for children of short stature with classic GH deficiency, chronic renal failure, and Turner's syndrome. In comparison, for children with ISS, appropriate patient selection criteria, optimal rhGH regimen, and other treatment variables for rhGH have not yet been established. While the use of rhGH for ISS shows little risk of serious short-term harm, the long-term risks are not yet known. The benefits of using rhGH for ISS can not yet be determined. While rhGH appears to increase the growth rate of children with ISS, its effect on final adult height is not clear. There is also disagreement as to whether final height or some other criterion, such as accelerated growth, should be used to measure the benefit of the use of rhGH for ISS. The use of rhGH for ISS raises a host of controversial and unresolved ethical issues. rhGH for ISS is not included in the coverage by many health plans. The long-term safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of the use of rhGH for ISS should be established through additional studies. At this time, rhGH should be used for ISS only in controlled settings that generate data on the intervention's safety and efficacy. Individuals responsible for determining the benefits set for public or private insurance products should carefully weigh the value of the use of rhGH for ISS as safety and efficacy data evolve. Health professionals should help parents and children address the problems that stem from ISS.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.health.state.mn.us/htac/hgh.htm

Year Published: 2000

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: Health Technology Advisory Committee

Contact Address: Queries should be referred to the Minnesota Department of Health (http://www.health.state.mn.us/)

Copyright: Health Technology Advisory Committee