Dirk Manfred Olbertz, Rebekka Mumm, Ursula Wittwer-Backofen, Susanne Fricke-Otto, Anke Pyper, Johannes Otte, Martin Wabitsch, Petra Gottmann, Karl Otfried Schwab, Martin Scholten, Kathrin Gerstmann, Manfred Voigt
Background A legitimate indication for growth hormone (GH) therapy in children born too light or short at birth [small-for-gestational age (SGA)] exists in Germany and the European Union only if special criteria are met. Methods We conducted a longitudinal, multi-centered study on full-term appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA, n=1496) and pre-term born SGA (n=173) and full-term SGA children (n=891) in Germany from 2006 to 2010. We analyzed height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference. Results Pre-term or full-term born SGA children were shorter, lighter and had a lower BMI from birth until 3 years of age than full-term AGA children...
February 13, 2019: Journal of Perinatal Medicine