Constitutional delay of growth and puberty in boys: the effect of a short course of treatment with fluoxymesterone.

17 boys with delayed growth spurt, 9 of whom also had late puberty, were treated with 2.5 to 5.0 mg of fluoxymesterone daily for 0.23-0.58 years. Mean increment of growth velocity was 4.5 cm/year during treatment and this was maintained at 3.8 cm/year over a post-treatment observation period of 0.22-1.3 years. Mean testicular volume at the end of the treatment period was 9.9 ml. Mean height for bone age standard deviation score remained unchanged at -1.2 to -1.4 (not significant). We conclude that a low dose of fluoxymesterone may be used in safety for a short time to induce a growth acceleration in adolescent boys with constitutional delay of growth and puberty.