The effect of large doses of ethinylestradiol on apolipoprotein levels in excessively tall prepubertal girls.

Seventeen constitutionally tall prepubertal girls, aged 10 to 14 years, were treated with large doses of ethinyl estradiol (EE) to reduce their final height. The serum concentration of cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoproteins before and after four to 17 months of treatment were compared with the same variables in a reference group, initially matched for bone age and height. In the patients, cholesterol rose by 24% (1.1 +/- 0.8 mmol/L), triglyceride by 105% (0.97 +/- 0.70 mmol/L), LDL apo B by 48% (27 +/- 19 mg/dL), apo A-I by 45% (62 +/- 17 mg/dL), and apo A-II by 21% (12 +/- 11 mg/dL). In the reference group, none of these variables changed significantly. The ratio of LDL apo B/apo A-I remained constant in both groups.