Growth hormone treatment improves final height in children with X-linked hypophosphatemia

Abstract Background/aim Despite optimal conventional treatment (oral phosphate supplements and active vitamin D analogs), about 40–50% of children with well-controlled X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) show linear growth failure, making them less likely to achieve an acceptable final height. Here, we studied the hypothesis that rhGH treatment improves final height in children with XLH and growth failure. Methods Two cohorts of children with XLH were included in this retrospective longitudinal analysis: (1) a cohort treated with rhGH for short stature (n = 34) and (2) a cohort not treated with rhGH (n = 29). The mean duration of rhGH treatment was 4.4 ± 2.9 years. We collected the auxological parameters at various time points during follow-up until final height. Results In rhGH-treated children, 2 years of rhGH therapy was associated with a significant increase in height from − 2.4 ± 0.9 to − 1.5 ± 0.7 SDS (p