Growth related hormones in idiopathic scoliosis. An endocrine basis for accelerated growth

In a total of 95 children with idiopathic scoliosis and 60 controls between the ages of 7 and 17 years, a prospective study of hormones related to growth and maturation was carried out. The pituitary release mechanism for growth hormone was evaluated using the propanolol/L-dopa stimulation test. In addition the blood levels of testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, oestradiol, thyroxin, prolactin, cortisol, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were determined. The girls were divided into age groups and all results were evaluated according to chronological and skeletal age. The number of boys was too small (25) to allow subdivision into age groups. The girls with idiopathic scoliosis had a significantly higher response to the growth hormone stimulation test than had the controls between the ages of 7 and 12 years whereas no significant difference could be found for the older girls. In girls with a skeletal age between 9 and 12 years a significantly higher mean serum level of testosterone was found (P less than 0.05). No significant differences could be demonstrated for the remaining hormones. Growth hormone and testosterone are the most important growth factors in prepubertal and pubertal children. Thus, the present findings suggest a hormonal basis for the increased stature in children with idiopathic scoliosis which has previously been reported.