The Effect of Human Growth Hormone on Growth of Patients With Hypopituitarism

Growth rates of 50 hypopituitary dwarfs averaged 0.25 cm/mo before and 0.65 cm/mo during initial treatment with human growth hormone (HGH). Studies by 11 groups of investigators showed growth rates on treatment decreased with time in at least one third of the patients and were slower or nil following therapy. The wide range of growth response made it impossible to relate responses to chronological age, bone age, or to specific HGH preparations. There was some evidence that growth responses were best in those patients receiving 20 to 45 mg of HGH per month.