Adult final height after GH therapy for irradiation-induced GH deficiency in childhood survivors of brain tumors: The Belgian experience

Objectives: The treatment of brain tumors in childhood is frequently complicated by growth retardation with a high proportion of irradiation (Irr)-induced GH deficiency (GHD) resulting in reduced adult final height (AFH) even after GH therapy (GHT). In order to optimize future GHT protocols, more information on the factors influencing the growth response to GH in these children is needed. This retrospective study evaluated AFH and influencing auxological and treatment factors of a standardized daily biosynthetic GHT in childhood survivors of brain tumors with documented GHD after brain Irr. Design and methods: From the Belgian GH Registry, 57 children survivors of a brain tumor outside the hypothalamo-pituitary area with available AFH were stratified into two groups depending on cranial (C-Irr; n=25) or craniospinal (CS-Irr; n=32) Irr. Results: In the C-Irr patients, results showed an AFH of - 0.8 (-2.5, 1.4) SDS (median (range)) and in the CS-Irr patients, results showed a significantly (P