Growth hormone: do we have a national perspective of indications for its use?

Objective: Presentation of indications for growth hormone use in children, from the view of physicians practising in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A questionnaire containing a list of common possible indications of growth hormone use was collected from 52 physicians practising in Saudi Arabia who were attending a didactic endocrinology course.

Results: All (100%) physicians considered growth hormone deficiency to be an indication. Sixty four and 29% considered Turner's syndrome and chronic renal failure to be indications. Other indications included Russell-Silver syndrome in 23%, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets in 10%, Achondroplasts in 10%, Sickle cell anemia in 10% and Bartter's syndrome in 2%. Genetic and constitutional short stature were considered in 17 and 19%. Only 65% did not advocate the use of growth hormone for short non-growth hormone-deficient children.

Conclusion: Indications of growth therapy are not clearly defined in Saudi Arabia. It is indicated to define this by a clear, national decided criteria which should take into consideration the internationally approved indications, availability and cost of this hormone.