title: Delayed closure of epiphyseal cartilages induced by the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole. Would it help short children grow up?
abstract: Estrogens locally generated from androgen precursors due to the action of aromatase play a main role in epiphyseal cartilage fusion. Treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (anastrozole, 1 mg/day for 3 yr) in a boy previously operated on for a hamartoma causing precocious puberty and presenting with advanced bone maturation and nearly fused epiphyseal cartilages, slowed cartilage fusion consenting a higher final stature than expected (164.4 cm vs 158.4 cm). It is suggested that treatment with aromatase inhibitors, alone or in combination with rh-GH, may also be useful in children with constitutional short stature in order to delay epiphyseal closure and improve the final height.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, University of Milan, Italy. giovanni.faglia@excite.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faglia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arosio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porretti
mesh_terms: D000077384:Anastrozole; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D001827:Body Height; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000188:drug therapy; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000077384:Anastrozole