Since 1985, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children has been the first condition treated with daily injections of recombinant human growth hormone. Noncompliance with daily growth hormone (GH) therapy is common. Several long-acting growth hormone (LAGH) treatments have recently become available for prescription in France after pivotal phase III trials demonstrated the non-inferiority of these LAGH compared to daily GH administration. To date, published data on LAGH in children are largely limited to clinical trials of GH deficiency (GHD).
Contrary to what is observed with daily GH, body mass index increases during the first year of LAGH treatment. With the Somapacitan, the observed mean body mass index (BMI) (SDS) remained within the normal range, but with an increase from -0.17 to +0.39 in the LAGH group and a decrease from -0.25 to -0.49 in the daily GH group. In the Somatrogon study, BMI increased from -0.51 to -0.08 in the somatrogon group, while it decreased from -0.44 to -0.64 in the daily GH group. This increase in BMI was transient and then normalized over the 3-year follow-up.
In June 2025, recent data from the experience of private endocrinologists in France (AFPEL) on the real-life use of somatrogon were presented at the congress of the French Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology. They reported a +1 SD increase in BMI during the first months of treatment in a cohort of 99 children, but an improvement was observed after prolonged treatment.
However, significant and persistent weight gain was observed in some patients, with a marked increase in abdominal adiposity. Some discontinued LAGH treatment in favor of daily GH.
Longer-term, real-life data are therefore needed to better understand the changes in BMI in these children treated with LAGH.
Patients aged 3 to 17 years inclusive.
Confirmed diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.
Indication for treatment with daily or depot growth hormone.
Growth hormone treatment naive or already being treated with growth hormone and wishing to change galenical.
BMI greater than +3 SD.
Multiple pituitary insufficiency.
Acquired growth hormone insufficiency.
Patient with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
All children in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Gynecology and Diabetology at Necker Enfants Malades University Hospital treated with growth hormone, with the daily form or the delayed form, for the indication of isolated non-acquired growth hormone deficiency, naive to growth hormone treatment or already being treated with growth hormone and wishing to change galenical.
Cohort
Prospective
Auxological measurements and impedancemetry
Other interventionAuxological measurements and with the Zmetric impedance meter will be carried out at each visit of the child's usual follow-up, from the day of the start of growth hormone treatment, for 3 years.
Auxological measurements and impedancemetry
Other interventionAuxological measurements and with the Zmetric impedance meter will be carried out at each visit of the child's usual follow-up, from the day of the change of the galenical of the growth hormone treatment, for 3 years.
Body mass index
Body mass index calculation at each visit of the child's usual follow-up, from the day of the start of growth hormone treatment or the change of the galenical and during 3 years.
Amount of muscle mass
Description of the body composition of children treated with GH for the indication of isolated growth hormone deficiency before the start of treatment or the change of the galenical and during 3 years. Amount of muscle mass in kg, in %, in kg/m2.
Amount of fat mass
Description of the body composition of children treated with GH for the indication of isolated growth hormone deficiency before the start of treatment or the change of the galenical and during 3 years. Amount of fat mass in kg, in %, in kg/m2.
Bone mineral content
Description of the body composition of children treated with GH for the indication of isolated growth hormone deficiency before the start of treatment or the change of the galenical and during 3 years. Bone mineral content in %.
Amount of extracellular and intracellular water
Description of the body composition of children treated with GH for the indication of isolated growth hormone deficiency before the start of treatment or the change of the galenical and during 3 years. Amount of extracellular and intracellular water (in L).
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Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead sponsor
URC-CIC Paris Descartes Necker Cochin
Collaborator
