[Idiopathic short stature. A literature review and update]

Idiopathic short stature (ISS) refers to all clinical conditions involving an alteration of growth (height<-2 SD) of unknown cause, with preservation of proportionality among body segments, with the expectation of adult height < -2 SDS, and in which a diagnosis of constitutional delay of growth and development has been previously ruled out. ISS is an exclusion diagnostic which requires clinical, biochemical, hormonal and molecular studies in order to rule out all known causes of growth retardation and short stature. ISS is a frequent diagnosis among children with short stature. Despite its frequency, there is still controversy on the best diagnostic and therapeutic approach when treating patients with ISS. This consensus document contains updated information on the definition, diagnosis and treatment of ISS, and provides new data and recommendations that have not been addressed in previous documents.