[Longitudinal growth of patients with homozygote beta-thalassemia during continuous subcutaneous infusion of deferoxamine].

Subcutaneous continuous infusions of deferoxamine were administered to 28 children with thalassaemia major. Longitudinal growth beyond the eleventh year was favourably influenced. The normal growth spurt during puberty was not demonstrable in six patients (three boys and three girls) during their puberty. Taking into account standard height allowing for parents' height, prospective final height and ethnic origin, the treatment favourably influenced longitudinal growth in 26 of the 28 children.