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Effectiveness of Growth-Promoting TherapiesComparison Among Growth Hormone, Clonidine, and Levodopa
Cecilia Volta, MD;
Lucia Ghizzoni, MD;
Gaetano Muto, MD;
Raffaella Spaggiari, MD;
Raffaele Virdis, MD;
Sergio Bernasconi, MD
Am J Dis Child. 1991;145(2):168-171.
Abstract
• The ability of growth hormone, clonidine, and levodopa to stimulate growth was compared in short and slowly growing children randomly assigned to different treatment regimens for 6 months. There were 10 children in each group, and 10 additional subjects served as controls. Growth hormone improved mean height velocity, height velocity SD score, and height SD score. The mean height velocity and height velocity SD score were significantly increased by clonidine, while levodopa only enhanced the mean height velocity SD score of the treated children. Moreover, in nine patients (90%) receiving growth hormone, two (20%) receiving clonidine, and one (10%) receiving levodopa, the height velocity was raised by more than 2 cm/y. The increments in height velocity and height SD score were greatest in the growth hormone group. Clonidine induced an increase in height velocity significantly different from that in control children only. In the control group, there was a significant reduction of height SD score with time.
(AJDC. 1991;145:168–171)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication August 6, 1990.
Presented in part at the Third Joint Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrinology Society, Jerusalem, Israel, October 31, 1989.
Reprint requests to Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy (Dr Bernasconi).
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