A study on the tissue responsiveness to short term exogenous growth hormone in children with idiopathic short stature in relation to their response to long-term treatment

INTERVENTION: After randomisation, the control group did not receive treatment, and were followed yearly for growth and puberty assessment. The treatment group underwent two three month periods of GH administration (1.5 IU/m^2/day, 3.0 IU/m^2/day) with three month washout periods in between. Thereafter 6 IU/m^2/day was given until the beginning of puberty. CONDITION: Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS) ; Signs and Symptoms ; Idiopathic Short Stature (ISS) PRIMARY OUTCOME: Height at stop of therapy (at onset of puberty) and final height. SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Timing of onset of puberty; 2. Duration of puberty; 3. Relation between long‐term growth response (dependent variable) and short‐term growth response on various dosages and in vitro responsiveness of cultured skin fibroblasts to GH and IGF‐1; 4. Effect of GH therapy on quality of life INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Height Standard Deviation Score (SDS) less than ‐2 2. Prepubertal 3. Aged between four to eight in females, or four to ten in males 4. GH response to provocation tests more than 20 mU/l 5. Normal sitting height:height ratio 6. Normal screening blood tests and urinanalysis