Skip to main content
Archives of Disease in Childhood logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood
. 1990 Oct;65(10):1109–1112. doi: 10.1136/adc.65.10.1109

Final height in boys with untreated constitutional delay in growth and puberty.

E C Crowne 1, S M Shalet 1, W H Wallace 1, D M Eminson 1, D A Price 1
PMCID: PMC1792322  PMID: 2248500

Abstract

To determine the natural history and psychological impact of the growth pattern in boys with constitutional delay in growth and puberty (CDGP), 43 boys presenting with short stature due to CDGP were followed up to final height. At presentation mean (SD) chronological age was 14.0 (1.9) years, bone age delay 2.7 (1.0) years, standing height standard deviation score (SDS) -3.4 (0.6), and predicted adult height SDS -1.3 (0.7). Final adult height SDS was -1.6 (0.9), measured at 21.2 (2.6) years. There was no significant difference between final height and predicted adult height, but there was a significant difference between final height and measured mid-parental height. Psychological questionnaires showed no significant difference in self esteem, marital, or employment state between the CDGP group and a control group. There was no correlation between self esteem and final height, but 25 felt their growth delay had affected their success either at school, work, or socially and 20 would rather have had treatment to advance their growth spurt. This study supports the more frequent use of active medical treatment to advance growth in boys with CDGP, and shows that although boys with CDGP reach their predicted heights, this is short for their families.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bierich J. R. Treatment of constitutional delay of growth and adolescence with human growth hormone. Klin Padiatr. 1983 Sep-Oct;195(5):309–316. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1034388. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Duke P. M., Carlsmith J. M., Jennings D., Martin J. A., Dornbusch S. M., Gross R. T., Siegel-Gorelick B. Educational correlates of early and late sexual maturation in adolescence. J Pediatr. 1982 Apr;100(4):633–637. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(82)80775-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Gordon M., Crouthamel C., Post E. M., Richman R. A. Psychosocial aspects of constitutional short stature: social competence, behavior problems, self-esteem, and family functioning. J Pediatr. 1982 Sep;101(3):477–480. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(82)80093-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. JONES M. C. The later careers of boys who were early- or late-maturing. Child Dev. 1957 Mar;28(1):113–128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. MUSSEN P. H., JONES M. C. Self-conceptions, motivations, and interpersonal attitudes of late- and early-maturing boys. Child Dev. 1957 Jun;28(2):243–256. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1957.tb05980.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Martin M. M., Martin A. L., Mossman K. L. Testosterone treatment of constitutional delay in growth and development: effect of dose on predicted versus definitive height. Acta Endocrinol Suppl (Copenh) 1986;279:147–152. doi: 10.1530/acta.0.112s147. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Richman R. A., Kirsch L. R. Testosterone treatment in adolescent boys with constitutional delay in growth and development. N Engl J Med. 1988 Dec 15;319(24):1563–1567. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198812153192402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Shalet S. M., Gibson B., Swindell R., Pearson D. Effect of spinal irradiation on growth. Arch Dis Child. 1987 May;62(5):461–464. doi: 10.1136/adc.62.5.461. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Shalet S. M. Treatment of constitutional delay in growth and puberty (CDGP). Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 1989 Jul;31(1):81–86. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1989.tb00456.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Stanhope R., Brook C. G. Oxandrolone in low dose for constitutional delay of growth and puberty in boys. Arch Dis Child. 1985 Apr;60(4):379–381. doi: 10.1136/adc.60.4.379. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Tanner J. M., Whitehouse R. H. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child. 1976 Mar;51(3):170–179. doi: 10.1136/adc.51.3.170. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Volta C., Ghizzoni L., Buono T., Ferrari F., Virdis R., Bernasconi S. Final height in a group of untreated children with constitutional growth delay. Helv Paediatr Acta. 1988 Nov;43(3):171–176. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Archives of Disease in Childhood are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES