For many children with short stature, the daily routine of growth hormone injections can be a demanding journey for both the child and the family. A large review of 30 studies involving over 3,000 patients looked at whether switching to a once-weekly long-acting version of the hormone changes the results.
The findings show that the weekly treatment is just as effective as the daily version for increasing height velocity and overall height scores. While the weekly version did show a significantly greater increase in a specific growth factor called IGF-1, the primary goals of height and quality of life remained comparable between both groups.
Safety profiles were also similar between the two methods. While the study notes that specific formulations or a child's starting health can influence results, the data suggests that weekly shots offer a similar medical outcome. This could potentially make the treatment easier to manage for families while maintaining the same level of care.
