THE PATTERN OF GROWTH FAILURE IN RETT SYNDROME

Objective.-To define the growth pattern of girls with Rett syndrome wi th respect to height, weight, and frontooccipital head circumference. Design.-Longitudinal with irregular intervals between measurements. Se tting.-Rett Syndrome Program Project at Baylor College of Medicine, Ho uston, Tex. Participants.-Ninety-six girls fulfilling criteria for Ret t syndrome; comparison group with standard growth curves. Selection Pr ocedure.-Consecutive entries into the Rett Syndrome Program Project. I ntervention.-None. Measurements/Main Results.-Height, weight, and fron to-occipital head circumference data were grouped into intervals. Grou p medians were then generated. Regression lines were fitted through th e median points and plotted on standard growth charts. Deceleration of growth velocities began at age 3 months and persisted through age 18 years. Conclusions.-Early deceleration of head growth, followed by dec eleration of weight and height measurements, appears to be a growth pa ttern characteristic of Rett syndrome. This pattern of growth may prov ide the earliest clinical indicator for the diagnosis of Rett syndrome .