ESTROGEN-TREATMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL TALL STATURE - A RISK-BENEFIT RATIO

Oestrogens are given in high doses for the treatment of tall stature i n girls. The aim of this study was to obtain data considering efficien cy, side effects, and acceptance of the treatment of 50 constitutional ly tall girls treated with conjugated oestrogens (7.5-11.25 mg/day). T he mean (SD) adult height predictions were 188.3 (4.4) cm and the achi eved height was 5.2 (3.3) cm less than the predicted height. A greater reduction from final predicted height occurred when treatment was sta rted at an early bone age (<13.0 years) and with a remaining growth po tential of greater than 10 cm. Even postmenarcheal girls, however, had a mean reduction of 4.8 (3.2) cm. The main side effects were consider able weight gain (>10 kg), an increase in triglyceride concentrations (37.5% of the patients), and increased platelet aggregation (60% of th e patients). Altogether 84.6% of the patients were satisfied with the treatment and 15.4% regretted having had it.