title: [Proposed new treatment for excessive statural growth using minimal corticotherapy. A propos of 11 cases treated with prednisone].
abstract: Treatment for excessive growth has alway constituted, in the endocrinological field, and particularly in the United States where such problems are frequently encountered, an incompletely solved problem, where the use of oestrogen therapy for girls has given more or less convincing results. We believe we have found a better solution which comes closer to tackling the real problem by using a minima corticotherapy, delayed until a height 1 or 2 cm short of the desired height is reached and bridging the time later required for the conjugation cartilages to fuse, under the influence of physiological puberty which is allowed to occur naturally under this method. 11 adolescents (1 boy, 10 girls) underwent this treatment at ages between 12 1/2 and 16 (average age 14 years 2 months), at a standard dose of 15 mg/day of prednisone in 3 equal doses over a period of between 7 and 25 months with periodical checking of the clinical condition, radiological bone structure and satisfactory biological tolerance. Results on growth were quite clear: growth rhythm was immediately inhibited, falling from 7,2 cm to 0,5 cm/year and there was total arrest of expected growth and a final height of about 1 or 2 cm more than the height at the onset of treatment was reached. The quality of the results obtained by this method seems to be considerably better than those obtained by other methods which have so far been suggested and this is all the more important as, provided specialised clinical and biological checks are carried out very regularly, it is not countered by unfortunate side-effects. Side-effects either do not occur at all with this method or are very minor and always regress when treatment is terminated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005877:Gigantism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone
vernacular_title: Proposition d'un nouveau traitement des excès staturaux par une corticothérapie a minima. A propos de 11 observations traitées par la prednisone