PULMONARY FUNCTION IN SHORT STATURE

Abstract

We studied 18 children with short stature (sst) ages 7 to 19 years without lung diseases on 26 occasions. Four groups of sst, based on overall pulmonary function were identified. First, the primordial and genetic sst had pulmonary functions appropriate for their heights. Second, a case of constitutional sst, Noonan's syndrome, mixed gonadal dysgenesis and two cases each of mosaic Turner's and renal sst had increased static lung volumes (except in Noonan's, who had normal volumes), and moderate to marked increases in flow rates (PEF, MMEF, FEV1). Specific conductance, SGaw (normal 0.199±0.047) ranged from 0.225 (Noonan's) to 0.293 (constitutional). These findings suggest an exaggeration of nonisotropic patterns of alveolar and airway growth, altering the interdependence of mechanical forces in the lungs. Third, two cases of post-operative craniopharyngioma had decreased static lung volumes, flow rates and SGaw. In both cases DLCOsb values were lower than predicted. Fourth, four cases of idiopathic growth hormone deficiency had low static lung volumes and lower than predicted DLCOsb. The flow rates were within normal limits. Despite human growth hormone administration of 3 to 6 months' duration, there was no evidence of lung growth exceeding that of the height.