Results of two years of growth hormone treatment followed by combined growth hormone and oestradiol in Turner syndrome. The Norwegian Turner Study Group.

Abstract

The effects of treatment with human growth hormone (GH) for 2 years, followed by combined treatment with GH and oestradiol valerate, were studied in girls with Turner syndrome, aged 7.0-16.6 years. Height SDS (Turner standards) increased after GH treatment, and height velocity SDS (Turner standards) increased dramatically 6 months after the start of GH treatment and gradually declined after 2 years' treatment. A further increase occurred after 18 months of GH and oestradiol treatment in conjunction with the pubertal growth spurt, followed by a decline 6 months later. Height SDS for bone age increased during GH treatment, and remained virtually unchanged after the introduction of oestradiol. Predicted final height increased after the first year of GH treatment only. The use of GH and oestrogen treatment in Turner syndrome is discussed in the light of these preliminary results.