Results of long-term human growth hormone therapy for pituitary dwarfism.

It has been generally recognized that human growth hormone (HGH) has the effect to facilitate growth in cases of pituitary dwarfism. As of April 1970, however, there are only 33 reported cases in the world in which HGH has been administered for more than two years (Soyka et al., 1970). We have treated 14 cases of pituitary dwarfism with HGH, and observed initial increases in growth rate in all cases. In two of the cases the therapy became practically ineffective after several months, whereas in the other twelve it remained effective for more than one year. Some of these cases were previously reported (Shizume, 1968 1969). The present paper reports the results on five of the above-mentioned twelve cases in which HGH therapy has been continued for more than three years.