Remarkable catch-up growth in a boy with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome

A boy is described who was followed from 4 to 21.5 years of age, during which time he was treated with high doses of corticosteroids for a steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome. For the first 10 years therapy was mainly continuous and height decreased from -0.5 to -4.5 SDS. Later discontinuous treatment without a reduction in the total weekly dose was accompanied by rapid catch-up growth. Final height was -1.0 SDS. During most of the time skeletal age was severely retarded and a discrepancy between the development of the short bones of the hand and the carpal bones was noted.