- C Rongen-Westerlaken: Department of Paediatrics, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Methionyl growth hormone (somatrem) in a daily dosage of 4 IU/m2 body surface area was administered to 16 girls with Turner syndrome. Low dose ethinyl estradiol (0.1 microgram/kg body weight) was added in girls aged 13 years or more. Mean (SD) height velocity increased from 3.4 (0.9) to 7.2 (1.7) and 5.3 (1.3) cm/year in the first and second year, respectively. Bone age advanced 1.8 years over 2 years and predicted adult height was increased. Apart from the occurrence of anti-GH antibodies there were no side effects. In conclusion, somatrem is an efficacious and safe therapy for short stature in Turner syndrome over a period of 2 years. Longer follow-up is needed before conclusions about its effect on final height can be drawn.