Study of adherence to Recombinant Growth Hormone treatment of children with a GH deficiency: contributions to treatment control and economic impact

Abstract

The treatment for children with growth hormone deficiency has significantly developed since its first uses from human cadavers (1958), until the arrival of recombinant human growth hormone (1985). This biotechnological advance has allowed an expansion in its uses due to a greater availability, as well as a greater biological safety of this hormone and significant refinements regarding dosage and administration frequency, achieving significant results in the final growth of these children. However, the existence of non- responder phenotypes, as well as the more common lack of therapeutic compliance, can pose severe limitations regarding effectiveness, with the corresponding economic impact for Health Systems, which may be mitigated by innovations in administration devices.