Psychological aspects of the Canadian randomized controlled trial of human growth hormone and low-dose ethinyl oestradiol in children with Turner syndrome. The Canadian Growth Hormone Advisory Group.
Preliminary results are presented after 2 years of the Canadian long-term multicentre study on the impact of hormone therapy on the final height, sexual development and psychological status of girls with Turner syndrome. Girls entering the study were randomized either to be treated with recombinant human growth hormone or to act as controls. Both groups received oestrogen replacement therapy in the same dose and format at the age of 13 years. However, for the purposes of the psychological study at this time, children receiving oestrogen were excluded from analysis. Girls treated with GH for a period of 2 years showed a significant increase in growth rate, which declined with continued treatment, while the growth rate in the control group remained constant throughout. There was a correlation between the higher growth rate and the girls' perceptions of themselves as more intelligent, more attractive, having more friends, greater popularity and experiencing less teasing than the untreated group. Growth rate was not correlated with family or school functioning.
Rovet
J
J
Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Holland
J
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D013006:Growth Hormone