Sex steroid priming for growth hormone stimulation testing in children and adolescents with short stature - a systematic review.

Sex-steroid priming increases the growth hormone response during GHST, resulting in fewer patients meeting the threshold required for a diagnosis of GHD. Unnecessary GH treatment may be avoided in some patients without a detrimental effect on final height. Numerous sex-steroid priming regimens have been used in clinical practice and the majority appear to be effective, but an optimal regimen has not been determined. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.