Comparison of Commonly Used Methods to Predict the Final Height in Constitutional Tall Stature

Abstract

To determine the accuracy of adult height prediction in children with constitutional tall stature. The medical records of 138 non-syndromatic prepubertal and early pubertal children (52 male, 86 female) with a height of ≥90th percentile born between the years 1975 and 1988 were included in this study. Using the Bayley-Pinneau (BP) and Tanner-Whitehouse I (TWI) prediction methods, their height standard deviation score (SDS) at referral was compared with their height SDS at age 17 years when measured at the IDF conscription center. While remaining tall, the height SDS at age 17 years was lower than that at referral decreasing from 2.13±1 to 1.65±1.21 in boys and from 2.48±1 to 2.15±1 in girls. The prediction by the BP and TWI methods can be useful for estimating adult height in constitutional tall stature even in the prepubertal and early pubertal period. However, the fallibility of these methods should be kept in mind during clinical practice. We think that this study will shed light on these issues.