Postnatal management of growth failure in children born small for gestational age

Objectives

To discuss the etiology and growth consequences of small size at birth and the indications, effects, and safety of biosynthetic growth hormone therapy in children born small for gestational age.

Source of data

A comprehensive and non-systematic search was carried out in the PubMed, LILACS, and SciELO databases from 1980 to the present day, using the terms “small for gestational age,” “intrauterine growth restriction,” and “growth hormone”. The publications were critically selected by the authors.

Data synthesis

Although the majority of children born small for gestational age show spontaneous catch-up growth during the first two years of life, some of them remain with short stature during childhood, with high risk of short stature in adult life. Treatment with growth hormone might be indicated, preferably after 2–4 years of age, in those small for gestational age children who remain short, without catch-up growth. Treatment aims to increase growth velocity and to reach a normal height during childhood and an adult height within target height. Response to growth hormone treatment is variable, with better growth response during the pre-pubertal period.

Conclusions

Treatment with growth hormone in short children born small for gestational age is safe and effective to improve adult height. Efforts should be done to identify the etiology of small size at birth before treatment.