Relatively longer hand in patients with Ullrich-Turner syndrome

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 calculated relative HL (RHL= HL/height) and relative NCL (RNCL= NCL/height). UTS patients had significantly greater RHL than controls. The greater RHL in 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 treatments given to them. We conclude that relatively longer hands are a common manifestation of UTS and that this parameter is useful for the diagnosis of the syndrome among short females, who usually need chromosome analysis.