Efficacy and Safety of Growth Hormone Treatment in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Growth retardation is well known in patients with severe forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Especially those who were under additional treatment with glucocorticoids for high disease activity. The hypothesis is, that treatment with growth hormone can, at leat in part, overcome growth hormone resistance state and increase final height. In a controlled study we follow patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with and without growth hormone treatment until final height. Additionally, we are interested in bone density development in those treated with growth hormone.