Efficient inference for random-coefficient growth curve models with unbalanced data.

Growth and dose-response curve studies often result in incomplete or unbalanced data. Random-effects models together with a variety of computer-intensive iterative techniques have been suggested for the analysis of such data. This paper is concerned with a noniterative method for estimating and comparing location parameters in random-coefficient growth curve models. Consistent and asymptotically efficient estimators of the location parameters are obtained using estimated generalized least squares. Two criteria for testing multivariate general linear hypotheses are introduced and their asymptotic properties are investigated. The results are applied to clinical data obtained on the blood ultrafiltration performance of hemodialyzers used in the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease.