title: Linear growth of children with limb deformities following exposure to thalidomide in utero.
abstract: The growth of 202 children exposed to thalidomide in utero and having upper (139 children) or lower (63 children) limb deformities has been assess towards the end of pre-pubertal growth. The analyses show that children exposed to thalidomide are shorter than normal children but grow at a normal velocity later. These findings may help in consideration of the mechanism by which thalidomide exerted its teratogenic effect. Analyses of growth may find a wider use in the retrospective assessment of drugs which are potentially harmful in pregnancy.
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide