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Growth pattern in boys with fragile X

K Brøndum Nielsen1

  • 1John F Kennedy Institute, Glostrup, Denmark.

American Journal of Medical Genetics
|May 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Boys with Fragile X syndrome (fra(X)) may exhibit early overgrowth. This study observed increased birth weight and accelerated linear growth in infancy, but lower weight until age two, suggesting growth disturbances in fra(X) patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Fragile X syndrome (fra(X)) is a genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability.
  • Previous observations suggested potential overgrowth patterns in early infancy for some affected boys.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the early growth patterns in a cohort of boys diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome.
  • To determine if overgrowth is a characteristic feature in early infancy for fra(X) patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of growth data (birth weight, linear growth, weight measurements) in 7 fra(X) positive boys.
  • Comparison of growth parameters against the mean for Danish boys.

Main Results:

  • Mean birth weight was elevated in the fra(X) cohort.
  • Linear growth consistently exceeded the mean, with the most significant increase observed in the second year of life.
  • Weight measurements were below the average for Danish boys until the age of two years.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a potential disturbance in early infantile growth patterns for individuals with Fragile X syndrome.
  • Overgrowth, particularly in linear dimension, may occur alongside initial weight deficits.

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