Diagnosis:
Endocrine/ Metabolic/ Nutritional
Treatment:
Pharmacy/ Prescription Drugs
Health Plan:
CVS Caremark
Decision:
Overturned overturned
Appeal Type:
Medical necessity
Gender:
Male
Age Range:
0-9
Decision Year:
2019
Appeal Agent:
IMEDECS
Case Number:
201906-117894
Coverage Type:
Self-Funded
Summary

This is a patient with Helsmoortel-van der Aa syndrome due to a mutation in the Activity Dependent Neuroprotector Homeobox (ADNP) gene. He has short stature and poor growth velocity, hypotonia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), small bowel hypomotility, developmental delay, laryngeal cleft status/post (s/p) repair, chronic lung disease, moderate persistent asthma, cortical visual impairment, and secondary adrenal insufficiency from exogenous steroids. The patient responded to growth hormone (GH) therapy with a boost in growth velocity and improvement in muscle tone, and continuation of therapy is being requested. The health plan's detemination is overturned. The patient meets most of the criteria for GH treatment of short stature. His rare genetic syndrome is known to be associated with poor growth and hormone deficiencies. He responded to a trial of GH therapy with improved growth velocity and improvement in his muscle tone. Continuation of GH therapy is medically necessary in order for him to achieve his height potential.

References

1) Richmond E, Rogol AD. Current indications for growth hormone therapy in children and adolescents. Endocr Dev 2010; 18:92-108. 2) Kirk J. Indications for growth hormone therapy in children. Arch Dis Child 2012; 97: 63-8. 3) Deodati A, Peschiaroli E, Cianfarani S. Review of growth hormone randomized controlled trials in children with idiopathic short stature. Horm Res Pediatr 2011; 76 Suppl 3: 40-2. 4) Ranke MB. Treatment of children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2013; 9:325-34. 5) Cohen LE. Idiopathic short stature: a clinical review. JAMA 2014; 311:1787-96. 6) Grimberg A, DiVall SA, Polychronakos C. Guidelines for GH and IGF-1 treatment in children and adolescents: GH deficiency, idiopathic short stature, and primary IGF-1 deficiency. Horm Res Paediatr 2016; DOI: 10.1159/000452150.