SKYTROFA is now FDA approved for adults with growth hormone deficiency Learn More
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Understanding pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD)

What is pediatric GHD?

If your child has been diagnosed with pediatric GHD, it means that their pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone to stimulate their body to grow. Your child is likely growing at a slower rate than other children, which will be noticeable on their growth chart.

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Impact of GHD on your child

In addition to short stature, pediatric GHD may impact your child in other ways:

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Puberty may be delayed or absent 
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They may look younger when compared with friends of the same age and gender
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Normal metabolism, bone strength, and muscle development may also be affected as growth hormone is important for these

More GHD resources

Your child's GHD can present some unique challenges. The links below contain helpful information about advocacy organizations, growth, traveling with medication, and more.

The MAGIC
Foundation
Visit Site
Human Growth
Foundation
Visit Site
SafeNeedle
Disposal.org
Visit Site
CDC
Growth Charts
Visit Site
Bullying
Prevention
Visit Site
TSA
Procedures
Visit Site
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Real caregiver of child with GHD

Meet Kylene

Two of Kylene's children, Sophie and Isaac, were diagnosed with pediatric GHD at a young age. Now, both are taking SKYTROFA®. Learn more about their family's unique journey.

Kylene's Story
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Talk to your Doctor

If you are concerned about your child's growth, start by sharing your concerns with your child's doctor. They will take a detailed medical history, conduct a physical examination, and assess your child's growth patterns. If GHD is suspected, the pediatrician may refer you to a specialist who focuses on hormonal issues in children and can conduct more specialized tests. If your child is diagnosed with GHD, ask about a treatment option.

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Ask about once-weekly SKYTROFA®

If you and your child's doctor determine growth hormone treatment may be right for your child, here are resources to learn more about the benefits of SKYTROFA® and help guide your conversation.

Explore Patient Resources

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & USES

SKYTROFA is a prescription medicine used for:

  • the replacement of growth hormone in children 1 year old or older who weigh at least 26 pounds (11.5 kilograms) with growth hormone deficiency (GHD)
  • the replacement of growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD)

Do not take SKYTROFA if:

  • you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing problems
  • you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in SKYTROFA

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & USES

SKYTROFA is a prescription medicine used for:

  • the replacement of growth hormone in children 1 year old or older who weigh at least 26 pounds (11.5 kilograms) with growth hormone deficiency (GHD)
  • the replacement of growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency (GHD)

Do not take SKYTROFA if:

  • you have a critical illness caused by certain types of heart or stomach surgery, trauma or breathing problems
  • you are allergic to somatropin or any of the ingredients in SKYTROFA
  • you are a child with closed bone growth plates
  • you have cancer or other tumors
  • you have certain types of eye problems caused by diabetes
  • you are a child with Prader-Willi syndrome who is severely obese or has breathing problems including sleep apnea (briefly stopping breathing during sleep)

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, about all of your medical conditions, and about all the medicines you take. SKYTROFA may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how SKYTROFA works.

What are the possible side effects of SKYTROFA?

SKYTROFA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • serious allergic reactions. Get medical help right away if you have swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat or trouble breathing
  • high risk of death in people who have critical illnesses caused by heart or stomach surgery, trauma, or serious breathing problems
  • increased risk of growth of an existing tumor or cancer, or increased risk of a previous tumor or cancer returning in people who were treated with radiation to the brain or head as children and who developed low growth hormone problems. Your healthcare provider will need to monitor for the growth or return of a tumor or cancer. Contact your healthcare provider if you start to have sudden changes in behavior, headaches, vision problems, or changes in moles, birthmarks, or skin color
  • new or worsening high blood sugar or diabetes. Your blood sugar may need to be monitored during treatment with SKYTROFA
  • increase in pressure in the skull. Contact your healthcare provider if headaches, eye problems, nausea, or vomiting occur
  • too much fluid in the body (fluid retention). Contact your healthcare provider if you notice swelling in the hands and feet, pain in the joints or muscles, or nerve problems that cause pain, burning or tingling in the hands, arms, legs, and feet
  • decrease in a hormone called cortisol. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your cortisol levels
  • decrease in thyroid hormone levels. Decreased thyroid hormone levels may affect how well SKYTROFA works. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels
  • hip and knee pain or a limp in children (slipped capital femoral epiphysis). This may lead to a serious condition where bone tissue dies due to a lack of blood supply (osteonecrosis). Get medical help right away for children who develop a limp or have hip or knee pain
  • worsening of curvature of the spine in children (scoliosis)
  • severe and constant abdominal pain. This could be a sign of pancreatitis. Tell your healthcare provider about any new abdominal pain
  • loss of fat and tissue weakness in the area of skin you or your child inject. Talk to your healthcare provider about rotating the areas where SKYTROFA is injected
  • high risk of sudden death in children with Prader-Willi syndrome who are severely obese or have breathing problems, including sleep apnea
  • increase in phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone levels in your blood. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check this

The most common side effects of SKYTROFA in children include: viral infection, fever, cough, nausea and vomiting, bleeding, diarrhea, stomach area pain, joint pain and arthritis

The most common side effects of SKYTROFA in adults include: swelling due to fluid build-up and low thyroid hormone

These are not all of the possible side effects of SKYTROFA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Ascendis Pharma at 1-844-442-7236.

Please click here for SKYTROFA full Prescribing Information.

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