RESULTS OF 2 YEARS OF GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT FOLLOWED BY COMBINED GROWTH-HORMONE AND ESTRADIOL IN TURNER SYNDROME

The effects of treatment with human growth hormone (GH) for 2 years, f ollowed by combined treatment with GH and oestradiol valerate, were st udied in girls with Turner syndrome, aged 7.0-16.6 years. Height SDS ( Turner standards) increased after GH treatment, and height velocity SD S (Turner standards) increased dramatically 6 months after the start o f GH treatment and gradually declined after 2 years' treatment. A furt her increase occurred after 18 months of GH and oestradiol treatment i n conjunction with the pubertal growth spurt, followed by a decline 6 months later. Height SDS for bone age increased during GH treatment, a nd remained virtually unchanged after the introduction of oestradiol. Predicted final height increased after the first year of GH treatment only. The use of GH and oestrogen treatment in Turner syndrome is disc ussed in the light of these preliminary results.