Growth hormone releasing peptides: growth studies

Abstract

Although recombinant human growth hormone (GH) remains the gold standard for treatment of GH-deficient (GHD) children, growth hormone releasing hormone is also approved for this indication. The discovery of the growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs) and the highly conserved growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) receptor suggests the existence of an as yet unidentified endogenous ligand involved in the control of GH secretion. Published efficacy data on the use of GH secretagogues (GHRP and GHRP-mimetics) in children with GHD are limited, but suggest that GHSs increase growth velocity compared to pretreatment. However, in these small studies of relatively short duration, growth was less than that seen historically with GH treatment. It is unknown whether, at least in a subset of patients, genetic height potential can be attained with GHS. As the physiologic role of the putative GHS ligand is clarified, any potential therapeutic role for GHS therapy in a subset of children with GHD may become more clear.