Reference values for height, height velocity and weight in Turner's syndrome. Swedish Study Group for GH treatment

Abstract

As Northern Europeans are currently the tallest people in the world, specific growth charts for girls with Turner's Syndrome from this area are needed. Based on height and weight measurements from 598 girls with Turner's Syndrome (372 from the Netherlands, 108 from Denmark, 118 from Sweden) not treated with growth-promoting substances and without signs of spontaneous puberty, we constructed growth charts for height-for-age, height-velocity-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height and Body Mass Index for age. Reference tables and regression equations for mean and standard deviation are provided allowing calculation of Standard Deviation Scores. The height and height velocity curves show a low birth length, gradual deviation from the normal percentile curves without pubertal growth spurt, and a prolonged growth until the early 20s. Mean adult height was 146.9 +/- 7.8 cm. Mean weight-for-age was lower than in normal reference children but height-adjusted weight was higher, except in infancy and early childhood. Further studies are required on the factors influencing the weight-height relationship in Turner's Syndrome.