ESPE Abstracts

Background: The most prominent clinical feature in patients with Turner syndrome (TS) is short stature.

Objective and hypotheses: To assess the effect of GH and pubertal induction therapy on height gain in patients with TS.

Method: 58 TS patients with a mean age of 18.9±7.2 years were documented retrospectively. Clinical findings, karyotype, impact of baseline age, dosage, baseline bone age, duration of the GH and pubertal induction therapy was investigated.

Results: On admission mean age and height SDS was, 9.6±4.2 years and −3.1±1.1 S.D. respectively. Difference between chronologic and bone age (CA–BA) was −2.3±1.5 years. GH therapy (0.038±0.008 mg/kg per day) was initiated in 52 of the patients (%89) (mean height SDS: −3.3±1.1) at an age of 10±3.3 years and a bone age of 7.9±2.9 years. CA–BA was: −2.3±1.5 years. Estrogen treatment for pubertal induction was given at an age of 14.6±1.5 years and bone age of 11.6±1.6 years. Mean final height was 147±5.5 cm (final height SDS −2±0.95) in the 21 patients who had achieved final height. 32 of the patients were diagnosed below 10 years (group 1) and 26 above 10 years (group 2). Six of the patients (18.7%) from group 1 and 15 of the patients (57.6%) from group 2 reached to final height. Final height SDS of the two groups did not reach to statistical significance (P=0.133). Positive correlation was found between height gain and baseline age, initial age of GH and CA–BA (P<0.05). Height gain in patients treated with GH was 0.9±1.2 S.D. while in patients untreated was 0.2±1.5 S.D. (P=0.18).

Conclusion: Early diagnosis, early initiation of GH therapy and the delay of initial bone age are important for height gain.

Abstract withdrawn.