CONSTITUTIONAL DELAY IN GROWTH AND PUBERTY - A COMPARISON OF FINAL HEIGHT ACHIEVED BETWEEN TREATED AND UNTREATED CHILDREN

Constitutional delay in growth and puberty (CDGP) is one of the princi pal causes of consultation due to short height. Frequently familial sh ort stature is associated with the CDGP, The predicted final height is reached in the majority of the cases but some individuals do not achi eve their target height, Poor growth, especially during the pubertal y ears, as well as a short or growth delayed mother are some of the nega tive factors for final outcome, Some prepubertal children show a trans ient diminished GH secretion that normalizes during puberty, Therapy w ith hGH or oxandrolone increases growth velocity but does not ameliora te final height, The psychosocial situation of the children is the mos t important condition to treat with testosterone, estrogens or oxandro lone. In view of the results hGH should not be administered routinely to these cases. It remains open which children could benefit from hGH therapy.