Treatment of hypopituitarism with recombinant somatropin for 1 year.

Twenty-five hypopituitary patients were treated with recombinant somatropin for 1 year at a dosage of 0.5 IU/kg/week. In previously untreated patients (n = 16), heights increased by between 4.5 and 10.2 cm, with a mean height velocity of 7.7 +/- 1.8 cm/year (mean +/- SD). In previously treated patients (n = 9), heights increased by between 3.9 and 7.6 cm, with a mean height velocity of 5.8 +/- 1.0 cm/year, similar to that observed during previous treatment with pituitary GH. Anti-GH antibodies were observed in two patients at a low titre. The antibodies disappeared in one patient during the treatment. These data indicate that recombinant somatropin has a growth promoting effect and low immunogenicity.