Long-acting growth hormone in children with idiopathic short stature: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of long-acting growth hormone (LAGH) treatments for idiopathic short stature (ISS) in children. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL Clinical Trials, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov until June 12, 2025. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing the effect of LAGH formulations with daily recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in children with ISS. Outcomes were change in height (Δ Height), change in height standard deviation score (Δ Height SDS) and change in growth velocity (Δ GV). Results: A total of 684 references were initially identified, and we selected two studies. However, both had a high risk of bias. We found that, after 26 weeks of follow-up, the mean Δ Height, Δ Height SDS, and Δ GV were lower in LAGH (EutropinPlus)-treated patients than in rhGH-treated patients. Between 7–12 months, during the first year of follow-up, and during the second year of follow-up, we found that the mean Δ Height SDS was higher in LAGH (Jintrolong)-treated patients than in rhGH-treated patients. However, during a complete 2-year follow-up period, we found no difference between the mean Δ Height SDS in patients treated with LAGH (Jintrolong) and those treated with rhGH. Conclusion: We found that only two LAGH formulations (EutropinPlus and Jintrolong) have been assessed in two prospective studies for the treatment of ISS. EutropinPlus did not show a positive effect and Jintrolong showed contradictory results. Thus, current evidence does not support the use of LAGH formulations in children with ISS.