Efficacy and safety of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in juvenile dermatomyositis children with glucocorticoid-related growth failure
Authors' conclusion
Our study suggests an acceptable safety profile and potential efficacy in improving growth parameters, even in refractory cases.
Study context
- Population
- Children with refractory JDM and glucocorticoid (GC)-induced growth failurerefractory JDM
- Participants
- 16 children
- Exposure
- rhGH treatment, baseline vs after 6 months
- rhGHn = 16
- Outcome
- Height Z-score and growth velocity (GV)
- Follow-up
- 6 months
Methodological detailssingle-group, before–after comparison
- Single-group
- Before–after comparison
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Height Z-score: baseline −2.37 ± 1.15 to −1.73 ± 1.06 at 6 months
- P < 0.001
- Growth velocity (GV): 2.74 ± 1.53 cm/year to 13.05 ± 3.64 cm/year at 6 months
- P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Serum IGF-1 and alkaline phosphatase · 6 months
- IGF-1 rose from 264.13 ± 81.24 to 351.59 ± 123.41 ng/ml
- P < 0.05
- Alkaline phosphatase rose from 242.40 ± 42.25 to 318.70 ± 86.12 U/l
- P < 0.05
Safety
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| JDM relapse | rhGH 6.25% |
- JDM relapse — Reported recurrence rate in JDM patients not receiving rhGH (literature)
- 31.6%
Creatine kinase · 6 months
- Increased from 79.33 ± 27.56 to 111.60 ± 42.84 U/l, within normal range
- P < 0.01
Adverse metabolic or endocrine effects
- None observed
Original publication
Efficacy and safety of rhGH in juvenile dermatomyositis children with glucocorticoid-related growth failure. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 18 June 2025. doi:10.
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