Effects of treatment with oxandrolone for 4 years on the frequency of severe arithmetic learning disability in girls with Turner syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To study androgen treatment effects on arithmetic performance in girls with Turner syndrome.


METHODS
Forty-four girls, ages 10 to 14 years at baseline, completed 4 years of treatment with oxandrolone (Ox) or placebo (Pl). All received growth hormone and estrogen replacement therapy. We assessed the number of girls with severe learning disability (LD, standard score <or=5(th) percentile) on measures of academic arithmetic and reading achievement (WRAT-3, arithmetic and reading), given yearly, and the WIAT numerical operations (NOS) and reading subtests, given at year 4.


RESULTS
On the WRAT-3 arithmetic, the frequency of severe arithmetic LD was similar in the Ox and Pl groups at baseline and at years 1 and 2. At years 3 and 4, fewer girls in the Ox than Pl group had a severe arithmetic LD (year 4: 0/22 vs 5/21, P = .02). On the WIAT NOS (year 4), fewer girls in the Ox than Pl groups had a severe arithmetic LD (3/21 vs 8/20, P = .09). WIAT NOS error analysis suggested that the improved performance in the Ox group was associated with better performance on multiplication and division (P < .01). The frequency of severe LD for the WRAT-3 reading was similar for the Ox and Pl groups (all years) and for the WIAT reading subtest (year 4).


CONCLUSIONS
Androgen treatment for 4 years in girls with Turner syndrome resulted in a small decrease in frequency of severe arithmetic LD, with no effect on reading LD.
Ross
Judith L
JL
Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Pediatrics, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Judith.Ross@mail.tju.edu
Mazzocco
Michele M M
MM
Kushner
Harvey
H
Kowal
Karen
K
Cutler
Gordon B
GB
Roeltgen
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000728:Androgens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008433:Mathematics; D010074:Oxandrolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011336:Probability; D011932:Reading; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000728:Androgens; D010074:Oxandrolone