We analyzed the total hand length (HL) and length of noncarpal bones (NCL)
in 50 Japanese patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS) and in 443 other
patients with short stature used as controls. In each patient group we cal
culated relative HL (RHL= HL/height) and relative NCL (RNCL= NCL/height). U
TS patients had significantly greater RHL than controls. The greater RHL, i
n UTS patients is mainly due to their longer, short tubular bones. The RHL
is not affected by ages and karyotypes of UTS patients or growth hormone tr
eatments given to them, We conclude that relatively longer hands are a comm
on manifestation of UTS and that this parameter is useful for the diagnosis
of the syndrome among short females, who usually need chromosome analysis.
(C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.