Growth Hormone Deficiency (Pediatric)

What is Growth Hormone Therapy?

Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) daily injections restore growth in children with GH deficiency, Turner syndrome, SHOX deficiency, and other conditions. Long-term treatment from childhood to near-final height achieves substantial height gains (average +7-10 cm over untreated).

Why China?

• Cost (annual): $4,500-$9,500 vs. $20,000-$60,000 in the US
• Domestic rhGH: GeneScience Jintropin (long market experience) + new weekly formulations
• Weekly options: Jintrolong PEGylated hGH (1 injection/week) — unique to China
• Expert care: PUMC and Shanghai Children's have 5,000+ GH therapy patients

Who is a candidate?

• GH deficiency (peak GH <10 ng/mL on 2 stimulation tests)
• Idiopathic short stature (height <-2.25 SDS)
• Turner syndrome
• Chronic kidney disease with growth failure
• Prader-Willi, SHOX deficiency, Noonan

Outcomes

Height velocity in year 1: 2-3x baseline. Near-final height gain: 7-12cm for GHD, 5-8cm for ISS/Turner. Early treatment initiation (<age 6) maximizes benefit.