Near Final Height in Males treated with Aromatase Inhibitors

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Growth Disorders
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Limited data exists on aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy's effect on final adult height in males with short stature.
• This study focuses on males with advanced or rapidly advancing bone age (ABA) and compromised predicted adult height.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of AI therapy on final adult height in males with ABA.
• To compare the efficacy of different AI medications (anastrozole vs. letrozole) and identify factors influencing height gain.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 72 male patients with short stature and ABA.
• Descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Letrozole treatment resulted in significantly greater median height gain (4.2 cm) compared to anastrozole (0.8 cm).
• Patients receiving letrozole achieved final adult height closer to their mid-parental height.
• Longer treatment duration, earlier pubertal stage treatment, and concurrent growth hormone (GH) therapy were associated with greater height gains.

Conclusions:

• Letrozole appears more effective than anastrozole in improving final adult height for males with ABA.
• Early intervention, extended treatment duration, and combination with GH therapy are key factors for maximizing height outcomes.