Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have been the focus of extensive scientific interest in recent decades. A SGA child is defined as one whose birth weight and/or length is below -2 SDS (2.3rd percentile) for their gestational age, according to selected reference growth curves. Approximately 80–85% of these children experience catch-up growth by the end of their second year of life, and around 90% by age four. The birth of a SGA child may be due to many reasons, and special attention should be paid to the presence of genetic ones. Early identification, close monitoring, and timely intervention can help modulate both short- and long-term complications associated with the condition.
This review aims to summarize the current literature regarding the use of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy in children born SGA.
Treatment with rhGH, developed in the 20th century, has demonstrated positive effects in SGA children who fail to achieve postnatal catch-up growth (commonly referred to as "short SGA children"). Improvements have been observed not only in final height, but also in metabolic markers and cognitive development. Multiple factors influencing treatment outcomes have been identified, and awareness of these factors is crucial for optimizing therapeutic results.
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