ADULT HEIGHT IN TURNER SYNDROME GIRLS AFTER LONG-TERM GROWTH HORMONE TREATMENT

We studied the adult height (AH) outcome, and factors likely to influence it, in Turner Syndrome (TS) girls treated with growth hormone (GH). A total of 25 TS girls treated with GH were compared with 10 TS girls not treated with GH. The percentage of girls who achieved normal third percentile was deter- mined. Projected AH (PAH) was calculated according to height standard deviation score (HSDS) at the begin- ning of the treatment. Gain in height was determined as: AH - pretreatment PAH. The percentage of girls who achieved target range (midparental height±2 SD) was determined. Multiple linear regression models were fitted on baseline variables- chronological age (CA), midparental height (MPH) and HSDS; and treatment variables- duration of oestrogen-free GH therapy and duration of GH therapy+oestrogens. As for baseline data: median CA was 13.0 years (5.6-15.8). Mean HSDS was 0.25±1.1 SDS. PAH was 139.2±5.6 cm. MPH was 160.0±5.0 cm. As for follow up data: Median CA at onset oestrogens was 15.1 years (13.2-16.6). Median duration of GH therapy was 3.8 years (2.1-10.3). Median oestrogen-free GH period was 2.0 years (0.7-7.8), and median GH+oestrogens period, 1.8 years (1.0-3.2). Adult height: Mean AH was 150.4±7.0 cm in treated patients and 140.8±7.2 cm in the group not treated with GH (p=0.001). Fourteen (56%) girls achieved normal third percentile compared with an initially predicted 1 (4%). Gain in height was 11.2±3.7 cm. Thirteen (59%) girls reached an AH within target range. HSDS at the beginning of the treatment was the variable most strongly related to AH and duration of oestrogen-free GH period was the variable most strongly related to gain in height.