Results of intermittent treatment of growth hormone deficiency with human grwoth hormone.

The growth in stature of two groups of growth hormone deficient children has been compared. The frist group received intermittent treatment with human Growth Hormone (hGH), 1 year on, 1 year off, subsequent years on; the second group received continous treatment. This latter group had a significantly better mean growth response. The reduction in treatment velocity in years subsequent to the first was not prevented by the year off treatment, the mean velocity of the intermittent group in their 3rd year being the same as that of the continous group in their second. We conclude that intermittent hGH therapy is of less values than continous treatment and should be avoided, at least pending further evidence.