Late adolescent linear growth pattern in pediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease

The late adolescent linear growth pattern of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has rarely been studied. We retrospectively reviewed the height measurements of 475 patients with IBD at 16, 18, and 20 years old for girls, and 18 and 20 years old for boys. We also compared Bayley-Pinneau bone age-predicted and -measured adult heights. Female patients had mean height-for-age z scores of -0.25 ± 1.0 at 16 years and -0.23 ± 1.0 at 18 years (P = 0.189); boys had z scores of -0.30  ± 1.1 at 18 years and -0.26 ± 1.0 at 20 years, respectively (P = 0.105). Bayley-Pinneau height predictions were 1.5 and 2.4 cm greater than measured height for 18-year-old girls (P = 0.060) and 20-year-old boys (P = 0.017), respectively. Our data indicate that most patients with IBD attain adult height within normal timing for the population. Hence, early identification of growth impairment is critical to appropriate management in IBD.