Factors affecting Final Adult Height in Turner Syndrome

Jung, Min Ho; Hwang, Jin Soon; Kim, Eun Young; Yang, Sei Won

Abstract

Purpose
: Shortness is the most frequent and quite disturbing characteristics of patients with Turner syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting final adult height(FAH) in these patients.
METHODS
: The study group was comprised of 19 patients who were diagnosed as Turner syndrome and attained FAH. We analyzed the influences of various factors on FAH in GH treated group with those in GH untreated group.
Results
: Nineteen patients were enrolled; thirteen received GH treatment and six did not. The mean duration of GH treatment was 24.3 months(range : 9 to 50 months), and the mean dosage of GH was 0.98+/-0.35IU/kg/wk in GH treated group. The mean growth velocity during GH treatment was 5.6+/-1.8 cm/yr, which was significantly higher than that during pretreatment period(P<0.05). In GH treated group, the mean chronological age, bone age, mean height, and height SD score at GH therapy were 13.7+/-1.7yr, 11.3+/-1.9yr, 129.7+/-7.9cm, and -4.1+/-1.1, respectively, which were not statistically different from those at diagnosis of GH untreated group. In GH treated group, the mean FAH and FAH SD score were 144.8+/-5.0cm, and -3.2+/-0.9, respectively, which showed no significant difference compared with those of GH untreated group. Analyzing the factor affecting FAH in all Turner girls of both groups together, parental height, chronological age, bone age, and bone age delay at diagnosis(or at the initiation of GH therapy) were not related to FAH. Height and height SD score at diagnosis(or at the initiation of therapy) were positively related to FAH(P<0.05, r=0.72).
CONCLUSION
: The results suggest that GH treatment dose not improve FAH in patients with Turner syndrome, despite increased growth velocity during GH treatment, which might come from intermittern GH therapy. This should be remained to be clarified with more Turner patients who attained FAH.