Absence of catch-down growth in Russell-Silver syndrome after short-term growth hormone treatment

We describe 3 children with Russell-Silver syndrome without growth hormone insufficiency who were treated with growth hormone for 2, 3.7 and 6 years, showing a rapid growth acceleration. After cessation of growth hormone treatment, they grew at a normal rate without 'catch-down' growth, It may be possible that short intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) children with dysmorphic features respond to growth hormone therapy differently from non-dysmorphic IUGR short children, Shortterm growth hormone treatment for children with Russell-Silver syndrome may avoid side effects and diminish costs.