The present demographic data from the Kabi International Growth Study (KIGS) database are summarized. Of the 2580 patients included, 85% have growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and 15% have other causes of growth failure. Idiopathic GHD is present in 78.5% of the patients, the remaining 21.5% have organic GHD. Isolated GHD is common in idiopathic GHD whereas multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies occur in at least 50% of the organic GHD patients. A preponderance of boys is observed in most groups of patients. Median chronological age (CA) at start of treatment is 10 years and median duration of therapy is 2.3 years. However, a wide range is observed. In most cases growth retardation is severe. In most patients with GHD height SDS for chronological age at start of therapy is at or below -3. The median difference between idiopathic and organic GHD is 1 SDS. Most patients have 6 or 7 injections of growth hormone (GH) per week. The median total weekly dose is approximately 0.5 IU/kg/week, but it is lower in older patients. It is concluded that steadily increasing numbers of patients with idiopathic and organic GHD are being treated with human GH (hGH). In addition, many patients with other growth disorders not necessarily associated with GHD receive hGH therapy. Chronological age at start of treatment still appears to be (too) high in most patients and growth retardation severe. The frequency of hGH injections has been increased to nearly daily administration. However, the total weekly dose appears to be low, especially in the older patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)