Re: MAGIC's Recommendations: doctor's visits

[Guest guest]

MAGIC recommends that a child with a growth disorder such as RSS

should be seen every 6 months by their pediatric endocrinologist,

for proper tracking of growth.

Once a child is on growth hormone, the series of blood tests for

monitoring should be done ANNUALLY and preferably at the same time

every year. At baseline (visit when GH starts), insulin-like growth

factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, fasting

insulin, glucose and lipid levels as well as blood pressure should

be measured. Then these same tests should be repeated every year,

preferably by the same lab.

In addition, the child on growth hormone should preferably be seen

every 3 months, primarily because growth hormone is dosed by weight,

and should be adjusted for any weight increases regularly to ensure

maximim height gain. In addition, by being seen every 3 months, the

child's growth velocity can be measured. As the growth velocity

slows at any point, then the dosage can be increased.

Lastly, bone ages. I have been told that we should be recommending

annual bone ages for RSS/SGA children once they are about 6 or 7

years or older.

A child who has asymmetry of the legs should also see an orthopedist

once a year, just for a checkup as well.

Hope this information helps more than just .

Salem

> I was curious as to how often most RSS children should be seen

> regularly by their endo doctor. is only every 5 to 6

> months. And if something happens and I need to change the

> appointment, they ALWAYS tell me " we don't have anything for

another

> 6 months. " For instance, her next appointment is the Monday

after

> the convention. I called 3 weeks in advanced and explained about

> the conference and they told me that I could keep that appointment

> or wait till December(that's the next available appointment). At

> her last appointment in March, he increased her gh, but didn't do

> any blood work. Should he have done some test before increasing

her

> gh? He hasn't done any blood work or tests since May 03. Is this

> normal? He's never done a bone scan. I'm thinking very seriously

> about changing doctors. Any opinions?

> Thanks for the advice.

>

>

> , 6 1/2 yrs, 25lbs, 39in, gh

> , 11yrs

> , 12 1/2yrs