[Turner's syndrome: growth and clinical description of 83 Chilean girls].

BACKGROUND

Short stature is the main feature of patients with Turner's syndrome. There is limited information regarding the spontaneous growth of these patients in Chile.

AIM

To develop a specific growth chart for Chilean patients with Turner's syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 668 height measurements from 85 Chilean girls, born after 1968, with 45XO karyotype (minimum 15%), and without an Y chromosome fragment. Patients with hormonal therapy, such as growth hormone or estrogen, except thyroid hormone replacement, were excluded.

RESULTS

The karyotypes were 60% 45XO, 25% 45XO, 46XX, and 15% other complex mosaics. The birth length was 46.8 +/- 2.1 cm. The final height of our patients was 138,20 +/- 7.0 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

The final height achieved by our patients, is similar to Argentinian and Japanese patients, but is below the mean stature reported for Scandinavian and Northamerican patients who achieve a mean adult height of approximately 147 and 142 cm respectively. The birth length is also lower than that reported in those studies.