Hereditary gingival hyperplasia and physical maturation

In a family with eight children, six of the children suffered from gingival hyperplasia. Dental age was determined for five of the affected children. In four it was retarded in relation to chronologic age, but within normal limits. The skeletal age of the same five children was retarded by more than 2 standard deviations. The heights of three of these five children were clearly below the 2.5th percentile height curve. The two most retarded children were examined by pediatricians. No hematologic changes or evidence of malabsorption from the alimentary tract could be found. It is suggested that in this family retardation of physical development may be linked with gingival hyperplasia.