GROWTH AND PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN DOWN-SYNDROME

Growth retardation and gonadal insufficiency are well-known features o f Down syndrome. In this longitudinal study, 44 home-reared children a nd adolescents with Down syndrome, aged 10-24 years, living in the cou nty of Uppsala, were followed yearly. The male patients had a mean fin al height above that reported previously, and a close correlation betw een target and final heights was found. The mean final height in the f emale patients was below that reported earlier. Mean peak height veloc ities in males and females were 8.5 and 7.3 cm year(-1), respectively, significantly lower than in healthy children. The mean ages at peak h eight velocity were 12.3 and 10.8 years, respectively, indicating earl y growth spurts. The serum follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations , the small testes and the negative correlation between luteinizing ho rmone and testicular volume in the males may indicate some primary gon adal insufficiency. For the girls, mean menarcheal age corresponded cl osely to that of their mothers.