[The delay of bone maturation is a favorable element in the prognosis of final height]

Final heights were studied in 54 children followed for several years for growth retardation with delayed puberty. At the time of the first visit (13 9/12 in boys, 11 10/12 +/- 13/12 in girls), growth retardation was -2.7 +/- 0.8 in boys and -2.8 +/- 0.8 SD in girls. Retardation of bone age with respect to chronological age was always significant (2 7/12 +/- 10/12 yrs in boys and 2 7/12 +/- 9/12 in girls). Catch-up, calculated in terms of standard deviation score (SDS) between the first visit score and the final height was established for each child, as was the prognosis of height according to 3 methods (Bayley, Tanner, Roche). There is a highly significant correlation (r = 0.49; p less than 0.001) between the ratio of delayed bone age/chronological age (BA/CA) and the height catch-up calculated in SDS. On the contrary there is no correlation between the ratio BA/CA and the final height. This lack of correlation may be explained by the role taken by others factors, especially the parents heights, as a significant correlation was found between the final heights, the fathers heights (r = 0.29) and the mothers heights (r = 0.36). Thus, delayed bone maturation may be considered as a favourable factor for the prognosis of adult height.