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The pattern of growth in children with constitutional tall stature from birth to age 9 years. A longitudinal study
Insights
Children with constitutional tall stature (CTS) exhibit rapid early growth, then normalize. Final height predictions using Tanner
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Human Growth and Development
Background:
- Constitutional tall stature (CTS) is a common condition in children.
- Understanding the growth patterns of children with CTS is crucial for accurate prediction of final height.
- Early identification and monitoring are important for managing potential growth concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the longitudinal growth pattern of children with constitutional tall stature from birth to 9 years.
- To evaluate the accuracy of height prediction methods in children with CTS.
- To examine the relationship between parental height and final height in offspring with CTS.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal growth measurements (length and height) from birth to 9 years in 65 children (29 girls, 36 boys) with CTS.
- Application of Tanner's prediction method using height data at ages 4 and 8 years.
- Comparison of final achieved height with predicted height and analysis of correlation with parental heights.
Main Results:
- Children with CTS showed rapid growth in the first 4 years, followed by a drop to normal growth velocity parallel to the 50th percentile.
- Tanner's method provided accurate final height predictions based on measurements at ages 4 and 8 years.
- While mean parental heights were significantly lower than offspring's final height, individual final heights strongly correlated with parental heights.
Conclusions:
- The growth pattern of children with CTS involves rapid early acceleration followed by normalization.
- Height prediction using Tanner's method is reliable for children with CTS.
- Parental height is a significant predictor of final height in individuals with CTS, despite differences in average parental stature.
Abstract:
A study was made of the longitudinal growth pattern of 29 girls and 36 boys with constitutional tall stature (CTS) from birth to age 9 years. In these children, all of whom had a normal birth length, there was very rapid growth during the first 4 years of life, following which growth velocity dropped to normal and remained parallel to the 50th percentile. In the 49 subjects for whom actual final height was also obtained there was a very good agreement between this and the final height as predicted by Tanner's method from the height at ages 4 and 8 years. Significant differences were found between the mean maternal, paternal and mid-parental height and the tall stature of their offspring, but there was a very good correlation between the individual patients final height and their parental heights. The findings of this study stress the importance of periodical measurements of length and height in all children during the first few years of life so as to have appropriate data on which to base future considerations of possible therapy.