Psychiatry

Endocrinology

Intensive care medicine

Pediatrics

Psychological intervention

Referral

Short stature

Growth hormone treatment

Idiopathic short stature

Turner syndrome

Growth hormone deficiency

Growth hormone

Family medicine

Hormone

Medicine

Growth Hormone & IGF Research

Short stature remains the most common reason for referral to a pediatric Endocrinologist and its management remains a challenge. One of the main controversies is the diagnosis of idiopathic short stature and the role of new technologies for genetic investigation of children with inadequate growth. Complexities in management of children with short stature includes selection of who should receive interventions such as recombinant human growth hormone, and how should this agent dose be adjusted during treatment. Should anthropometrical data be the primary determinant or should biochemical and genetic data be used to improve growth response and safety? Furthermore, what is considered a suboptimal response to growth hormone therapy and how should this be managed? Treatment of children with short stature remains a “hot” topic and more data is needed in several areas. These issues are reviewed in this paper.

Growth hormone therapy in children; research and practice – A review