Evaluation of referrals for genetic investigation of short stature in Hong Kong.
OBJECTIVE
To establish a profile of the causes of apparently unexplained SS in genetic referral center and evaluate the current referral system.


METHODS
This was a retrospective database survey on patients who were referred our clinical genetic service from 1988 - 1998 primarily because of SS. We retrieved the study population from our computer database using "short stature"as a search handle and then studied the demographic, clinical and laboratory data from their medical records.


RESULTS
Three hundred and fifty-three subjects were referred for genetic evaluation of SS in 1988 - 1998. The mean age of referred subjects was 11.5 years and the female to male ratio was 7.6. All referrals had undergone cytogenetic studies to exclude chromosomal abnormalities, 19% of girls with apparently unexplained short stature had Turner syndrome; at least 47.9% of the study population were normal variants and 25% of the referrals had inadequate information for classification.


CONCLUSIONS
Genetic investigation is essential in the management of patients with SS, especially for girls suspected of having Turner syndrome, in which growth hormone treatment has shown to improve final height. We also highlight the inherited causes of short stature, which were often misdiagnosed as benign familial short stature, and discussed the drawbacks of the current referral system.
Clinical Genetic Service, Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. wflam@hingtek.hong.com.hk
Wai Fan Fanny
WF
Lam
Wai Lok Edgar
WL
Hau
Tak Sum Stephen
TS
Lam
D002648:Child; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000235:genetics