Child growing tall and strong with biologic therapy support.

Battling Growth Issues? How Biologic Therapies Help Kids with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how biologic treatments can restore normal growth in children suffering from connective tissue diseases and reduce reliance on corticosteroids."

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) encompass a wide range of chronic inflammatory conditions that primarily affect children. One significant complication is the inhibition of growth velocity. This growth impairment stems from direct inflammation within the musculoskeletal system and the use of glucocorticoid therapy.

The impact of CTDs is especially pronounced in conditions like juvenile spondyloarthropathies and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Disease duration and the intensity of the inflammatory process significantly affect a child's growth profile. Effective management of these conditions is vital for promoting healthy development.

Effective biological therapy aims to improve a patient’s clinical condition. By reducing disease activity and lowering the doses of corticosteroids (GCS), these therapies gradually normalize growth rates in children with CTDs. It is essential to evaluate how biologic therapy impacts growth in children with chronic inflammatory CTDs to enhance treatment strategies.

How Do Biologic Therapies Promote Growth?

Child growing tall and strong with biologic therapy support.

Biological agents, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockers and interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers, are increasingly used to treat CTDs. A recent study evaluated data from 24 patients with CTDs treated with these agents. The goal was to understand the impact of these treatments on growth rates.

The study tracked patients from the onset of the disease through the initiation of biological treatment and for at least 12 to 24 months afterward. Researchers correlated growth rates with daily doses of GCS, the type of biological therapy used, and the duration of treatment.

Initial Height Assessment: At the onset of the disease, the median height, measured as the change in height standard deviation score, was 0.36 ±1.07.
Height at Biologic Therapy Start: At the start of biological therapy, the height measurement was -0.13 ±1.02.
Growth Acceleration: During biological treatment, 17 patients (70.1%) experienced accelerated growth.
Height Improvement: The mean height SDS improvement from the start of biological treatment up to two years later was 0.51 ±0.58.
Reduction in GCS Doses: 47% of patients could reduce their daily GCS doses to 0 mg/kg/day.

The findings indicate that biological agents can restore growth velocity by inhibiting inflammation and reducing the need for GCS. These treatments are invaluable for managing CTDs and supporting normal development in affected children.

Restoring Growth and Improving Lives

Biological agents offer a dual benefit in treating CTDs in children. By controlling inflammation and reducing reliance on corticosteroids, these therapies help restore normal growth velocity. This comprehensive approach supports healthier development and improves the overall quality of life for young patients.

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the primary challenges that children with Connective Tissue Diseases face regarding growth?

Children with Connective Tissue Diseases (CTDs) often experience inhibited growth velocity. This is primarily due to direct inflammation within the musculoskeletal system and the use of glucocorticoid therapy (GCS). The impact is particularly pronounced in conditions such as juvenile spondyloarthropathies and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The disease duration and the intensity of the inflammatory process significantly affect a child's growth profile, making effective management of these conditions vital for promoting healthy development.

How do Biologic Therapies work to improve growth in children with chronic inflammatory conditions like CTDs?

Biologic therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockers and interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers, work by targeting and reducing inflammation. By improving a patient’s clinical condition, these therapies allow for a reduction in the doses of corticosteroids (GCS). This process helps to gradually normalize growth rates in children with CTDs. The study tracked patients from the onset of the disease through the initiation of biological treatment and for at least 12 to 24 months afterward. The study correlated growth rates with daily doses of GCS, the type of biological therapy used, and the duration of treatment.

What specific biological agents are used in the treatment of CTDs and what are their effects on growth?

Biological agents, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) blockers and interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers, are used to treat CTDs. The findings of the study indicate that biological agents can restore growth velocity by inhibiting inflammation and reducing the need for GCS. Data shows that 70.1% of patients experienced accelerated growth during biological treatment, with a mean height SDS improvement of 0.51 ±0.58 from the start of biological treatment up to two years later. Additionally, 47% of patients were able to reduce their daily GCS doses to 0 mg/kg/day.

Can you explain the role of Glucocorticosteroids (GCS) in the context of treating CTDs, and how biologic therapies interact with them?

Glucocorticoid therapy (GCS) is often used to manage the inflammation associated with CTDs, but it can also contribute to growth impairment. Biologic therapies help to reduce the reliance on GCS by controlling the inflammation directly. As the biologic therapies effectively manage the disease activity, the doses of GCS can be lowered. This reduction in GCS allows the child's growth velocity to normalize, promoting healthier development. The goal is to reduce the need for GCS while effectively controlling the CTDs.

Besides growth restoration, what other benefits do biologic therapies offer children with CTDs?

Biologic therapies offer a dual benefit in treating CTDs in children. Besides restoring normal growth velocity, these therapies improve the overall quality of life for young patients. By reducing disease activity and lowering the doses of corticosteroids (GCS), these treatments support healthier development. The comprehensive approach that includes controlling inflammation and reducing reliance on corticosteroids leads to improved clinical outcomes and a better quality of life for children affected by CTDs.