Growth hormone therapy will improve the height of short statured children with pathological conditions that lead to growth retardation. Growth hormone therapy will show an increase in height velocity >1 SD compared to pretreatment height velocity. and the therapy will be safe.

Growth hormone (GH, Somatropin, e.g. Genotropin®) is approved in the treatment of children in specific indications. However, besides the benefit in approved indications, a benefit can also be achieved in other pathological conditions that lead to growth retardation. However, because of their relative low frequency and the long duration of GH studies in children, few data or only case reports on GH treatment are available in these conditions. Nevertheless, published data have suggested a benefit of GH treatment in children suffering from some of those diseases and pediatric endocrinologists sometimes request GH treatment for those children to improve growth rate. This protocol is designed to allow such children with severe growth retardation to be treated with GH and will allow those children to be carefully followed-up and finally evaluated at the end of the GH treatment period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Severe growth retardation (< -2,5 height SDS and annual growth velocity (HV SDS) < 0 SD according to Reinken (1992) and parental adjusted target height < -1 SD according to Tanner (1986)
• Chronological age > 4 and < 10 years, prepubertal children; for girls: Tanner breast stage B = 1, for boys: testis volume ≤ 3 ml
• Any disease which is NOT part of the registered indications for GH treatment in Germany
• Written informed consent from both parents and from the patients if she/he is able to receive and understand the information
• GH treatment requested by an expert in pediatric endocrinology

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in any other clinical study
• Unable to follow the and/or comprehend the protocol ( e.g. severe mental retardation)
• Previous history of intolerance or hypersensitivity to the study drug
• History of malignancy
• Chromosomal anomalies with increased risk for malignancy