title: [Causes of short stature in children in relation to their midparental height].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is considered that the evaluation of a child's height strongly depends on the evaluation of his/her midparental height.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Analysis of causes of short stature in children in relation to midparental height.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 452 children with short stature, aged 3-18 yrs. The group of children included 178 girls and 274 boys. The children's measurements were standardized using the arithmetic mean and standard deviation for the Institute of Mother and Child norms. Midparental height was evaluated according to standards for 18-year-olds. The average height deficit was -2.5 SDS±0.65. The average midparental height was 166.07 cm±4,63 and in SDS it was -0.93±0,74.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or multihormonal pituitary deficiency was found in 34.3% of the patients (50 girls and 105 boys). In 22 girls (12.48) the Turner syndrome (TS) was diagnosed. Other causes of short stature were observed in 37 children. No hormonal disorders were found in the remaining group (275 children). 7% of those children were characterized by significant height deficit (-3 SDS). The difference between midparental height of GHD children and healthy children was not statistically significant. Body height of 20% of GHD children was consistent with their midparental height. The midparental height of girls with TS was significantly higher than the midparental height of the other children. The body height of 50% of girls with TS differed from their midparental height. The body height of 40% of healthy short children was consistent with their midparental height.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Children with short stature are a very heterogenous group of patients. 2. Comprehensive evaluation of physical development in children should not be restricted to the widely used criterion of midparental height.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pediatrii i Endokrynologii, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, ul. Marszałkowska 24, 00-578 Warszawa, Poland. amajcher@wum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majcher
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witkowska-Sędek
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielecka-Jasiocha
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pyrżak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000235:genetics*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone