Prediction of final height in boys with non-tumorous hypopituitarism

The total height gain was studied in 19 adult male subjects with non-tumorous hypopituitarism after they had been treated with human growth hormone (hGH) for more than 3 years and achieved final adult height. In patients with a history of breech delivery or severe perinatal asphyxia, a high multiple correlation was found between the total height gain and bone age plus chronological age at the start of therapy. In patients without perinatal problems, the total height gain correlated best with the delay of bone age plus height at the start. The equation constructed from these data allowed a calculation of the predicted adult height. It is shown that the method has an acceptable degree of accuracy.