PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Al-Herbish, Abdullah S.
AU  - Al-Jurayyan, Nasir A.
AU  - Abobakr, Abdullah M.
AU  - Al-Nuaim, Abdulrahman A.
TI  - Growth hormone. Do we have a national perspective of indications for its use?
DP  - 2000 Jun 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 536--538
VI  - 21
IP  - 6
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/6/536.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/21/6/536.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2000 Jun 01; 21
AB  - OBJECTIVE: Presentation of indications for growth hormone use in children, from the view of physicians practising in Saudi Arabia.METHODS: A questionnaire containing a list of common possible indications of growth hormone use was collected from 52 physicians practising in Saudi Arabia who were attending a didactic endocrinology course.RESULTS: All (100%) physicians considered growth hormone deficiency to be an indication. Sixty four and 29% considered Turner's syndrome and chronic renal failure to be indications. Other indications included Russell-Silver syndrome in 23%, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets in 10%, Achondroplasts in 10%, Sickle cell anemia in 10% and Bartter's syndrome in 2%. Genetic and constitutional short stature were considered in 17 and 19%. Only 65% did not advocate the use of growth hormone for short non-growth hormone-deficient children.CONCLUSION: Indications of growth therapy are not clearly defined in Saudi Arabia. It is indicated to define this by a clear, national decided criteria which should take into consideration the internationally approved indications, availability and cost of this hormone.