Extreme short stature after intrauterine growth retardation: factors associated with lack of catch-up growth.
The factors associated with lack of catch-up growth after intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) are unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To identify these factors by analyzing the clinical features and growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis.


METHODS
95 patients with height <-3 SD after IUGR were assigned to group 1 without (n = 50) or group 2 with (n = 45) malformations. Twenty-one in group 1 and 19 in group 2 were treated with GH.


RESULTS
They were seen at 5.3 +/- 0.5 and 4 +/- 0.5 year (p = 0.02) with heights at -3.4 +/- 0.1 and -3.9 +/- 0.2 SD (p = 0.03). Group 1 differed from group 2 in having a lower frequency of consanguinity (2 vs. 28.9%, p < 0.001), and higher frequencies of target heights (26.5 vs. 6.7%, p = 0.02) and mothers' heights (34.7 vs. 8.9%, p < 0.01) <-2 SD, multiparity (26 vs. 8.9%, p < 0.05), prematurity (36 vs. 15.5%, p < 0.05) and cesarean section birth (42 vs. 17.8%, p = 0.01). The GH-IGF-I axis data and the height increases after 3 years of GH treatment (1.6 +/- 0.2 in group 1 and 1.1 +/- 0.3 SD in group 2) were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
The short height of the parents, particularly of the mother, is associated with factors limiting the catch-up growth after IUGR of children without malformations, while the high frequency of consanguinity in those with malformations suggests that transmitted fetal factors affect organogenesis or development.
Edouard
T
T
Université René-Descartes and Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Fondation Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Paris, France.
Trivin
C
C
Lawson-Body
E
E
Pinto
G
G
Souberbielle
J-C
JC
Brauner
R
R
D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011584:Psychology; D013577:Syndrome
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I