Pan-European SAGhE study

This month's edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism contains two complementary accounts of the long-term safety of recombinant human growth hormone treatment (DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-1995, DOI:10.1210/jc.2011-2882). Both the French and combined Swedish/Dutch/Belgian cohorts are relatively small, and should be regarded as interim national reports being part of the pan-European Safety and Appropriateness of Growth Hormone treatment in Europe study (SAGhE) and are individually underpowered to address the broad number of questions that are raised. The full analysis and report will not be complete until the end of 2012/early 2013.

Any clinicians, patients or families who express concern should be referred to the recent statement from the European Medicines Agency (December 2011) which affirms that the current practice of GH prescribing should continue, and that no additional safety concerns have been raised when prescribers keep to the licensed indications and within the recommended dosage schedules.