Small for gestational age: Adult metabolic and cardiovascular health and long-term safety of growth hormone treatment

This thesis describes the concluding research that has been conducted in a large population of (young) adults who were born small for gestational age (SGA). Around 10% of children born SGA, do not experience catch-up growth, which leads to persistent short stature until adulthood. Growth hormone treatment and postponing puberty with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) can lead to sufficient catch-up in height, which results in an adult height within the normal range. However, long-term effects of SGA birth, growth hormone and GnRHa treatment were unknown. We describe long-term effects of SGA birth and these treatments on metabolic and cardiovascular health, body composition, bone mineral density, kidney function, cognition and psychosocial functioning.