LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH LOW-DOSE TESTOSTERONE IN CONSTITUTIONAL DELAY OF GROWTH AND PUBERTY - EFFECT ON BONE-AGE MATURATION AND PUBERTAL PROGRESSION

We compared the effects of long term low dose treatment with testoster one on pubertal growth and sexual development in boys with constitutio nal delay of growth and puberty (CDGP), We treated 24 boys with intram uscular monthly injections with low dose testosterone enanthate (33-50 mg) for 20 months, at a chronological age of 14.5 +/- 1.0 years and S DS height of -3.31 and compared their response to a group of 14 contro l boys. Treated patients showed an earlier and significant increase in height velocity compared to controls, 10.1 vs 4.0 cm/year, while the latter group showed their growth spurt twelve months later, Both group s showed an initial acceleration in bone age without impairment of pre dicted adult height. During the first 12 months of treatment the incre ment of testicular volume in the treated patients was slightly slower than controls; however the earlier the puberty, the slower the testicu lar increment compared to controls. We conclude that treatment of boys with constitutional delay of growth with low dose testosterone is eff ective in improving their height velocity without impairment of predic ted final height. Progression of testicular volume during treatment in some patients is more delayed; however, after treatment it increased normally.