Alternate-day steroids affect carpal maturation more than radius, ulna and short bones.
Radius, ulna, short bones (RUS) and carpal (CARP) bone age were assessed in 26 steroid-dependent nephrotic boys after at least 1 year of alternate-day prednisone therapy, and in 26 age- and sex-matched control subjects. No significant difference in RUS bone age was found between patients and controls. CARP bone age of patients was significantly (P = 0.01) more retarded than in controls. In patients, CARP bone age delay was related to their relative height at the time of study (P = 0.01). We conclude that CARP bones are more prone to effects of steroids than are RUS bones. Therefore, CARP bone age may be a more sensitive tool in monitoring the effects of steroids on skeletal growth and maturation.
Polito
C
C
Department of Paediatrics, Second University of Naples, Italy.
Greco
N
N
Opallo
A
A
Cimmaruta
E
E
La Manna
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D011241:Prednisone