A child builds a ladder of blocks to reach the sky, representing growth restored by biologic therapy.

Biologic Therapy and Kids: Can It Kickstart Growth?

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New study explores how biologic treatments influence growth in children battling chronic inflammatory diseases, offering hope for improved development."

Chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a group of conditions that cause long-term inflammation, and children are impacted heavily. Beyond the more obvious symptoms, one sneaky complication that flies under the radar is how these diseases can stunt growth. This happens due to the inflammation and also because of treatments like glucocorticoids (GCS), which, while helpful, can also mess with a kid's growth rate.

These growth issues are most obvious in kids with juvenile spondyloarthropathies and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). How long they've had the disease and how active the inflammation is are big factors in how much their growth is affected. But there's good news! Biologic therapies are coming in to change the game, helping to calm down disease activity and cut back on those high doses of steroids. The aim? To get these kids growing normally again.

A recent study took a closer look at just how much of an impact these biologic therapies have on growth in children with chronic inflammatory CTDs. The goal was simple: to figure out if these advanced treatments can really help kids get back on track when it comes to growing.

Unlocking Growth: How Biologic Therapies Work

A child builds a ladder of blocks to reach the sky, representing growth restored by biologic therapy.

Researchers dove into the data of 24 young patients with CTDs, all being treated with some form of biologic therapy. These included TNF-alpha blockers like etanercept, adalimumab, and golimumab, as well as an interleukin-6 receptor blocker called tocilizumab. The team checked in on these kids at three key points: when their disease first showed up, when they started on biologic treatments, and then regularly for the next one to two years.

The main thing they were tracking? Growth rate. They also kept tabs on how much GCS each child was taking, the specific biologic therapy they were on, and how long they were on it. All of this was to figure out exactly how these factors play into growth.

What They Found: At the start, the kids' height measurements (height SDS) were a bit off, averaging 0.36 ±1.07 at disease onset and dropping to -0.13 ±1.02 when they started biologic therapy. But as they continued with the biologic treatment, things started to look up.
Growth Spurt: Over 70% of the kids saw their growth velocity pick up. On average, their height SDS improved by 0.51 ±0.58 during the two years they were on biologic therapy.
Lower Steroid Doses: In almost half the cases, the kids were able to cut their GCS down to zero, which is a big win since these drugs can really hinder growth.

The study made it clear: biologic agents can really help restore growth velocity in children with CTDs. They do this not only by reducing inflammation but also by cutting down the amount of steroids these kids need to take.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

For families dealing with chronic inflammatory conditions, this study offers some real hope. It highlights how biologic therapies can be a game-changer, not just in managing the disease but also in helping kids achieve healthy growth. By targeting inflammation and reducing the need for steroids, these treatments pave the way for a brighter, taller future.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What are chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CTDs), and why do they impact children's growth?

Chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are conditions characterized by long-term inflammation, which can significantly affect children's growth. This occurs because the inflammation itself can directly interfere with the growth process. Furthermore, treatments like glucocorticoids (GCS), often used to manage these conditions, can also negatively impact a child's growth rate. The combination of the disease's inflammatory effects and the side effects of treatments can lead to stunted growth in children with CTDs.

How do biologic therapies help children with chronic inflammatory conditions to grow?

Biologic therapies, such as TNF-alpha blockers like etanercept, adalimumab, and golimumab, and an interleukin-6 receptor blocker called tocilizumab, play a crucial role in restoring growth in children with CTDs. These therapies work by targeting and reducing the inflammation caused by the disease. By decreasing inflammation, these treatments allow the body to resume normal growth patterns. Additionally, biologic therapies can reduce the need for high doses of steroids (GCS), which are known to hinder growth. In the study, over 70% of the children experienced an improved growth velocity and almost half were able to eliminate the use of GCS altogether.

What specific biologic therapies were used in the study, and how were they administered?

The study involved 24 young patients with CTDs, all of whom were treated with various biologic therapies. These included TNF-alpha blockers, such as etanercept, adalimumab, and golimumab, which work by blocking the action of TNF-alpha, a protein that promotes inflammation. Additionally, an interleukin-6 receptor blocker called tocilizumab was used; this therapy targets interleukin-6, another key player in the inflammatory process. The patients were monitored at three key points: at disease onset, at the start of biologic therapy, and regularly over the next one to two years. Researchers tracked their growth rate, GCS usage, the specific biologic therapy they were on, and its duration.

What were the key findings regarding the impact of biologic therapies on growth in children with CTDs?

The study revealed significant improvements in growth among children treated with biologic therapies. Initially, the height measurements (height SDS) of the children were slightly below average, but they improved as they continued with biologic treatments. Over 70% of the children showed an increase in growth velocity. Furthermore, the use of GCS was reduced in almost half the cases, with some children being able to stop using steroids completely. These findings highlight that biologic therapies can effectively restore growth velocity by reducing inflammation and allowing for lower steroid doses.

What is the broader significance of these findings for families dealing with chronic inflammatory conditions?

The study offers significant hope for families dealing with chronic inflammatory conditions in children. It demonstrates that biologic therapies can be a game-changer, not only in managing the disease but also in helping children achieve healthy growth. By effectively reducing inflammation and mitigating the need for growth-inhibiting steroids, these treatments pave the way for a brighter future, allowing children to reach their full growth potential. This offers reassurance and improved quality of life for children and their families, managing both disease symptoms and their growth concerns.