Growth standards of infants with Prader-Willi syndrome

Merlin G Butler1, Jennifer Sturich, Jaehoon Lee

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Kansas University Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, MS 4015, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. mbutler4@kumc.edu

Pediatrics
|March 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study presents standardized growth curves for infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), offering crucial tools for monitoring growth and comparing PWS infant data. These charts aid in assessing nutritional status and treatment responses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Genetics and Genetic Diseases
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder affecting growth and development.
  • Standardized growth monitoring tools are essential for managing infants with PWS.
  • Existing growth data for PWS infants often lacks standardization, hindering accurate assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To generate and report standardized growth curves for non-growth hormone-treated white infants with PWS.
  • To provide reference data for weight, length, head circumference, weight/length, and BMI from 0 to 36 months.
  • To facilitate comparison of growth patterns among infants with PWS and with normative data.

Main Methods:

  • Anthropometric data from 186 white infants (108 boys, 78 girls) with PWS aged 0-36 months were analyzed.
  • Standardized growth curves were developed using the LMS smoothing procedure for key growth parameters.
  • Calculated percentiles (3rd-97th) and plotted against Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2003 normative data.

Main Results:

  • Five standardized growth curves were created for weight, length, head circumference, weight/length, and BMI.
  • The curves represent 7 percentile ranges for non-growth hormone-treated white infants with PWS (0-36 months).
  • Normative 50th percentile data was plotted on each PWS growth curve for comparison.

Conclusions:

  • The developed growth standards are recommended for evaluating infants with PWS.
  • These charts facilitate monitoring growth patterns and nutritional assessments.
  • The standards can aid in evaluating responses to growth hormone therapy in PWS patients.
Abstract