Managing the child with severe primary insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (IGFD): IGFD diagnosis and management.

Growth failure associated with severe primary insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiency (SPIGFD), a condition defined as basal IGF-1 standard deviation score (SDS) less than or equal to -3 and height SDS less than or equal to -3 in a child with normal or elevated levels of growth hormone, can be successfully treated with the recombinant human IGF-1 mecasermin. In this review, we describe the most safe and effective way to use mecasermin in the treatment of patients with SPIGFD, including how to initiate dosing, key side effects, and how to monitor treatment. Finally, mention of how to reinitiate therapy is made, given the recent drug shortage with mecasermin.

Age of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females: a cross-sectional analysis.

Aim: A recent secular trend towards earlier thelarche has been suggested. The aim of this study is to examine normative ages of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females.

Methods: Trained physicians documented Tanner breast stage by observation in a cross-sectional cohort.

Effectiveness of self- or partner-administration of an extended-release aqueous-gel formulation of lanreotide in lanreotide-naïve patients with acromegaly.

Surgical resection is often not curative in patients with acromegaly and long-acting somatostatin analogues (lanreotide or octreotide) are often needed. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of self- or partner-administration of lanreotide in patients with acromegaly. This was a six-month, single-arm, open-label study conducted at 13 endocrinology clinics.

Leukemia in children treated with growth hormone.

An association between treatment with growth hormone (GH) and the development of leukemia was described in 1988. This perceived association is best explained by the fact that there are more children with GH deficiency (GHD) with risk factors predisposing them to leukemia than in the general population. These factors include previous cancers and their treatment, as well as co-existing conditions such as Down, Bloom and Fanconi syndromes.