Effect on growth of patients with Turner's syndrome treated with low estrogen doses

Abstract

In 33 patients with Turner's syndrome growth during a one year period of treatment with low doses of estrogens was evaluated (group A: (N = 12) Presomen 5-9 micrograms/kg d; group B: (N = 9) Presomen 10-21 micrograms/kg d; group C: (N = 12) ethinylestradiol 45-155 ng/kg d) and compared to a group (N = 37) of untreated patients. The auxological evaluation was made using SDS derivations based on control data derived from 150 untreated patients. Based on chronological age (CA) SDS levels for height velocity and the increments in height at the end of treatment increased marginally. Compared to untreated patients no effect was seen when calculations were based on bone age (BA) due to an advancement in bone maturity. It is concluded that low doses of estrogens are not suitable to improve the height development in Turner's syndrome.