Article Text
Articles
Using human growth hormone (somatropin)
Abstract
Short stature was first treated in 1958 with growth hormone (GH) made from human pituitary glands.1 In 1985 biosynthetic GH was introduced after several young adults treated with GH in childhood had died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.2 The first biosynthetic GH somatrem (Somatonorm - KabiVitrum) contains an additional methionyl residue and is licensed for treating short stature of Turner’s syndrome as well as GH deficiency. A preparation identical to human GH is now available (somatropin (rbe); Genotropin - KabiVitrum). Who should have it?