There is now good evidence that short-term growth hormone treatment improves growth of children with short stature secondary to intrauterine growth retardation. A 3-year treatment with dosages greater than 1.2 U/kg/week allows these children to reach normal height, without any currently known side effect. Long-term efficacy, i.e., improvement of final height, is probable, but depends on the possibility of reconducting the treatment in case of loss of the initial benefits. The possible effect of treatment on puberty is presently unknown and will need special attention when treated children reach pubertal age.