Controversies in the definition and treatment of idiopathic short stature (ISS)

Abstract

The term idiopathic short stature (ISS) refers to short children with no identifiable disorder of the growth hormone (GH)/insulin like growth factor (IGF) axis and no other endocrine, genetic or organ system disorder. This heterogeneous group of short children without GH deficiency (GHD) includes children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty, familial short stature, or both, as well as those with subtle cartilage and bone dysplasias. In rare cases, ISS is due to IGF molecular abnormalities. In this review we tackle the major challenges in the definition and treatment of ISS.

Keywords: Idiopathic short stature; growth; growth hormone; insulin−like growth factor.

Figure 1. Mean serum IGF−I SDS concentration between NFSS (Non Familial Short Stature: height ≤−2 SDS and corrected target ≤−1.9 SDS), FSS ( Familial Short Stature: height ≤−2 SDS and corrected target >−1.9 SDS) and control group (height >−2 SDS). Data are expressed in mean ± SEM. Personal unpublished data.