Assessment of short stature in very low birthweight children

The aims of this study of short very low birthweight (VLBW) children at or after 8 years of age were to determine: (i) if there were any unsuspected organic causes for their growth failure; and (ii) whether any children might be suitable for treatment with synthetic growth hormone. Thirty-seven of 195 (19%) VLBW children seen at 8 years had heights <10th centile, and of these only 40% (10/25) of families offered an assessment were concerned enough to have the child fully evaluated. No child had an unsuspected organic cause of short stature. The children's parents were significantly shorter than expected for Caucasians (mean parental height s.d. score=- 1.06 (s.d. 0.72), t=- 5.9, P<0.001)