Progressive reduction of relative height in childhood predicts adult stature below target height in boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty.
OBJECTIVE
In some adolescents with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP), the reduction in relative height (height SDs) starts already in childhood, before puberty. Some subjects with CDGP do not reach their target height (TH). We investigated whether early height SD reduction or testosterone treatment in low doses (1-2 mg/kg/month) influence final height (FH).


METHODS
The growth of 70 adult men with a history of CDGP was investigated. 31 subjects (13 treated with testosterone) had progressive height SD reduction between 3 and 9 years, and in 39 (17 treated with testosterone) no such reduction was seen.


RESULTS
In untreated subjects without early height SD reduction, FH was closer to TH than in those with such reduction (FH - TH 0.05 +/- 0.94 vs. -0.63 +/- 0.50 SD, p = 0.009). FH - TH did not differ between the testosterone-treated and untreated subjects in the group with early height SD reduction (FH - TH -0.36 +/- 0.48 vs. -0.63 +/- 0.50 SD, p = 0.15), nor in the group without such reduction (FH - TH -0.08 +/- 0.70 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.94 SD, p = 0.64).


CONCLUSIONS
Subjects with early height SD reduction do not attain FH consistent with their genetic height potential, whereas those without such reduction do. Treatment with low doses of testosterone does not adversely affect FH.
Wehkalampi
Karoliina
K
Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. karoliina.wehkalampi@hus.fi
Vangonen
Katarina
K
Laine
Tiina
T
Dunkel
Leo
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001824:Body Constitution; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011627:Puberty; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D013739:Testosterone; C004648:testosterone enanthate