Definitive body height in constitutional retardation of growth and puberty

Abstract

Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is a frequent cause of short stature in childhood. Controversial results have been reported on the full achievement of these patients of their target height. The final adult height of 20 patients with CDGP (11 male and 9 female), who did not received hormonal treatment, was compared with their target height and with the predicted adult height, by the Bayley-Pinneau method obtained before the onset of puberty. A spontaneous improvement of the stature from pre-puberty to adulthood was observed in all patients (from -2.9 +/- 0.7 SDS to -1.3 +/- 0.6 SDS in male and from -2.6 +/- 0.6 SDS to -0.9 +/- 0.3 SDS in female; P < 0.001). Adult height in male (166.4 +/- 4.1 cm) at the mean age of 21 years was very close to the target height (165.7 +/- 3.9 cm) and to the predicted adult height (167.3 +/- 3.1 cm). Also in female, final height (156.6 +/- 2.0 cm) did not differ from target height (153.3 +/- 4.2 cm) and from predicted adult height (155.6 +/- 2.3 cm). In our experience, patients with CDGP reach their predicted adult height and achieve their genetic potential without medical treatment.