[Spontaneous development of idiopathic short stature. Analysis of a group of 42 children followed to their final body height].

UNLABELLED

Idiopathic short stature is a common pediatric problem that has a heterogeneous nature and an unknown outcome concerning adult height (AH).

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this study was to assess the spontaneous adult height and the influence of several pre and post pubertal predictors over AH. The secondary objective was to create an historical control group to compare these patients with others that had been treated with growth-promoting therapies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was made with prepubertal male patients who consulted for short stature before 1986 until they reached AH. They did not receive any treatment. The data are shown as mean and standard deviation. Student's paired t test was used for comparison of groups. Predictive and descriptive models over final height were performed with multivariant analysis. A "p" value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Data of 42 children was analyzed. Mean age was 10.8 (2.2) years. The standard deviation score (SDS) for adult height spontaneously increased in 0.37 +/- 0.24 (p < 0.05), but it was under target height by 0.59 +/- 0.26 (p = 0.05). Main predictors of AH were: initial height, prognosis of AH and initial age (R2 = 0.58). Final height was no different between children with familial or non-familial short stature.

CONCLUSIONS

This group of children had a mean loss of 4 cms below their target height. These children may be considered as an historical control group to evaluate the treatment with growth-promoting therapies.