J Korean Soc Pediatr Endocrinol.  2003 Dec;8(2):149-155.

Clinical Characteristics and Growth Responses to GH Therapy in Children with Noonan Syndrome

• Hwang IT
• Shin CH
• Yang SW

Abstract

PURPOSE
Noonan syndrome(NS) is characterized by short stature, congenital heart disease, and typical facies. Recombinant human growth hormone(GH) has been reported to improve growth rate in a similar fashion to that seen in Turner syndrome. We investigated the clinical characteristics and growth reponses to GH therapy in children with NS.
METHODS
The cases of sixty seven patients with NS were reviewed retrospectively. Ten of the 65 patients were assessed height, weight and pubertal stage every 3 months during GH therapy.
RESULTS
Webbed neck(70%), delayed development(59.7%), low set posterior hairline(56.7%), eye abnormalities(56.7%) and mental retardation(55.2%) were the leading clinical characteristics. Short stature below the 3rd percentile was presented in 73.8 %. Growth patterns in NS children were variable and the evaluation of their growth must be individualized. The increments of height SDS were significant in children with GH therapy(height SDS:from -2.8+/-.6 to -2.3+/-.9, growth velocity:from 4.4+/-.8 cm to 9.2+/-.9 cm during first year, and 6.1+/-.1 cm during second year) (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This study characterized the clinical profiles in Korean children with NS, which should be further extended with more children with NS. Additionally, the significant increase in final adult height after GH therapy in children with NS should be observed.

Keyword

Noonan syndrome; Growth hormone therapy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Child*
Facies
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Noonan Syndrome*
Retrospective Studies
Turner Syndrome