Pubertal height gain in Ullrich-Turner syndrome

Abstract

Short stature and ovarian failure are the main features in Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS). The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the influence of age at initiation of puberty on final height. Sixty-five girls were treated with growth hormone (GH) and had a final height of 150.6 +/- 5.7 cm; 12/65 entered puberty spontaneously. A non-GH treated group of 12 girls with UTS reached a final height of 147.3 +/- 6.6 cm. Subdividing the GH treated group (n = 53) based on the age at induction of puberty, before or after 13 years, there was no significant difference in final height. Final height was affected by the age at which GH treatment was initiated, height SDS at the beginning of puberty, and by the duration of GH therapy. Therefore, early treatment with GH for short stature in UTS should be attempted so that an age adequate initiation of puberty will be feasible.