Although GH treatment for short stature in Turner syndrome is an accepted treatment in many countries, which GH dosage to use and which age to start puberty induction are issues of debate. This study shows final height (FH) in 60 girls with Turner syndrome treated in a randomized dose-response trial, combining GH treatment with low dose estrogens at a relatively young age.Girls were randomly assigned to group A (4 IU/m 2 ⅐d; ϳ0.045 mg/kg/d), group B (first year, 4 IU/m 2 ⅐d; thereafter 6 IU/m 2 ⅐d), or group C (first year, 4 IU/m 2 ⅐d; second year, 6 IU/m 2 ⅐d; thereafter, 8 IU/m 2 ⅐d). After a minimum of 4 yr of GH treatment, at a mean age of 12.7 ؎ 0.7 yr, low dose micronized 17␤-estradiol was given orally. After a mean duration of GH treatment of 8.6 ؎ 1.9 yr, FH was reached at a mean age of 15.8 ؎ 0.9 yr. FH, expressed in centimeters or SD score, was 157.6 ؎ 6.5 or ؊1.6 ؎ 1.0 in group A, 162.9 ؎ 6.1 or ؊0.7 ؎ 1.0 in group B, and 163.6 ؎ 6.0 or -0.6 ؎ 1.0 in group C. The difference in FH in centimeters, corrected for height SD score and age at start of treatment, was significant between groups A and B [regression coefficient, 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4, 6.9; P < 0.01], and groups A and C (coefficient, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.3, 7.7; P < 0.001), but not between groups B and C (coefficient, 0.9; 95% CI, ؊1.8, 3.6). Fifty of the 60 girls (83%) had reached a normal FH (FH SD score, more than ؊2). After starting estrogen treatment, the decrease in height velocity (HV) changed significantly to a stable HV, without affecting bone maturation (change in bone age/change in chronological age). The following variables contributed significantly to predicting FH SD score: GH dose, height SD score (ref. normal girls), chronological age at start of treatment, and HV in the first year of GH treatment. GH treatment was well tolerated.In conclusion, GH treatment leads to a normalization of FH in most girls, even when puberty is induced at a normal pubertal age. The optimal GH dosage depends on height and age at the start of treatment and first year HV. (2), subnormal levels of GH and IGF-I have been reported (3, 4). It has been postulated that a diminished sensitivity for growth factors might explain their growth retardation (5, 6). Nevertheless, GH treatment in a supraphysiological dosage has been shown to accelerate growth (4, 7). Another clinical feature in most girls with TS is the absence of spontaneous pubertal development, for which estrogen substitution is necessary. Although GH treatment for short stature in TS is now an accepted treatment in many countries, reports on final height are inconsistent (8,9), and which dosage to use and which age to start puberty induction are issues of debate.Previously, we have demonstrated that long-term GH treatment in TS leads to normalization of height (4, 10). This study shows final height (FH) results in 60 girls with TS treated in a randomized dose-response trial comparing 3 dosage schedules. In addition, we show the effect of low dose estrogen treatment begun at a relatively ...

Objective-To study the resumption of puberty and the final height achieved in children with central precocious puberty (CPP) treated with the GnRH agonist triptorelin. Patients-31 girls and five boys with CPP who were treated with triptorelin 3.75 mg intramuscularly every four weeks. Girls were treated for a mean (SD) of 3.4 (1.0) years and were foliowed up for 4.0 (1.2) years after the treatment was stopped. Results-The rate of bone maturation decreased during treatment and the predicted adult height increased from 158.2 (7.4) cm to 163.9 (7.5) cm at the end of treatment (p<0.001). When treatment was stopped bone maturation accelerated, resulting in a final height of 161.6 (7.0) cm, which was higher than the predicted adult height at the start of treatment (p<0.001). Height at the start of treatment was the most important factor positively influencing final height (r = 0.75, p<0.001). Bone age at cessation of treatment negatively influenced final height (r = -0.52, p = 0.03). A negative correlation between bone age and height increment after discontinuation of treatment was observed (r = -0.85, p = 0.001). Residual growth capacity was optimal when bone age on cessation of treatment was 12 to 12.5 years. Body mass index increased during treatment and remained high on cessation. At final height, the ratio of sitting height to subischial leg length was normal. Menarche occurred at 12.3 (1.1) years, and at a median (range) of 1.1 (0.4 to 2.6) years after treatment was stopped. The ovaries were normal on pelvic ultrasonography. Conclusions-Treatment of CPP with triptorelin increases final height, with normal body proportions, and seems to increase body mass index. The best results were achieved in girls who were taller at the start of treatment. Puberty was resumed after treatment, without the occurrence of polycystic ovaries.(Arch Dis Child 1996;75:292-297)

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This retrospective study evaluates long‐term growth of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and looks for possible relationships between postsurgical catch‐up growth and both severity of preoperative growth failure and operation age. Growth data of 123 children with isolated CHD were available. Mean z‐scores and 95% confidence intervals for weight, height and weight‐for‐height were plotted for age‐periods as well as for pre‐ and postoperative periods. Growth of children with a large VSD or a Tetralogy of Fallot was most abnormal and improved but did not normalize after operation. Catch‐up growth for length was strongly correlated with severity of the preoperative growth failure (r= 0.92, p < 0.05) but not with operation age (r= 0.20, NS). We conclude that surgical correction results in catch‐up growth for most individuals. Catchup growth is positively correlated with the severity of the initial growth disturbance and not with age at the moment of surgical correction.