Delayed closure of epiphyseal cartilages induced by the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole. Would it help short children grow up?
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.
Faglia
G
G
Institute of Endocrine Sciences, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, University of Milan, Italy. giovanni.faglia@excite.com
Arosio
M
M
Porretti
S
S
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
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D014230:Triazoles; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000077384:Anastrozole