Three-Year Growth Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Very Young Children Born Small for Gestational Age—Data from KIGS

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) with poor growth during the first years of life may remain short in stature during childhood and as adults.To evaluate the 3-year growth response to GH treatment in very young short children born SGA, and to test the existing predictions models for growth response developed for older SGA children.KIGS (The Pfizer International Growth Database).A total of 620 SGA children (birth length and/or weight below -2 SD score [SDS]) on GH treatment, 156 in the 2- to 4-year-old group (100 boys; median age, 3.3 y), and 464 in the 4- to 6-year-old group (284 boys; median age, 4.9 y).Median values and 10th-90th percentiles are presented. Both groups presented a significant increase in height velocity during GH treatment. Median height SDS increased from -3.9 (-5.4 to -2.9) at the start to -2.2 (-3.8 to -1.0) at 3 years in the 2- to 4-year-old group (P.01) and from -3.4 (-4.5 to -2.6) to -2.0 (-3.3 to -0.9) in the 4- to 6-year-old group (P.01). Median weight SDS increased from -3.8 (-5.9 to -2.4) to -2.1 (-4.1 to -0.5) in the 2- to 4-year-old group (P.01). Respective values for the 4- to 6-year-old group were -3.1 (-4.8 to -1.8) to -1.6 (-3.1 to -0.1) SDS (P.01). First- and second-year growth response could be estimated by the SGA model.Very young children born SGA without spontaneous catch-up growth presented a significant improvement in height and weight during the 3 years of GH treatment. Growth response could be estimated by the SGA model.