GROWTH AND PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MENINGOMYELOCELE - ARETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Our retrospective analysis of growth and pubertal development includes 109 children and adults with meningomyelocele (MMC) (52 M, 57 F) aged 3.2-21.0 years (median 8.9 years). Anthropometric data, growth-retard ing factors and data on pubertal development were analysed in comparis on to the normal population using standards from Prader et al. (1). Th e results (mean +/- SD) were as follows. Fifty patients (46.8%) had sh ort stature (height SDS for chronological age (SDS CA) < -2). The supi ne length was influenced by the level of the lesion (height SDS CA: gr eater than or equal to L2 -3.13 +/- 1.62, less than or equal to S2 -0. 46 +/- 1.27), ambulatory status, skeletal deformities and pubertal sta ge. The mean adult height (n = 15, age 16.1-21.0 years) measured 141.3 cm for women (height SDS CA -3.83 +/- 1.79) and 159.2 cm for men (hei ght SDS CA -2.27 +/- 1.81). In 82.6% of the subjects (n = 90), arm spa ns were within the normal range. Reduced arm spans (SDS < -2) as found in 19 patients (17.4%) with short stature (mean height SDS CA -3.29 /- 1.29) may be caused by factors other than neurological lesions and skeletal deformities, and require further endocrinological studies. Ou t of 27 pubertal patients, central precocious puberty was diagnosed in five girls. The stages of puberty in MMC girls developed earlier than expected for the age-related group.