Puberty and pubertal growth dynamics in children with idiopathic short stature.

Objective: As the prognosis for final height is unfavorable for children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), we studied the pubertal growth dynamics in these children, which is a determinant factor in final height.

Subjects/methods: In a retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the pubertal period, age of puberty and peripubertal growth in 50 children with ISS.

Results: The onset of puberty occurred later. Growth rate tended to become increasingly subnormal in the prepubertal period and height was -2.45 SD at puberty onset. Growth reaccelerated at this point, which tended to correct the deviation from the mean height, but it was insufficient to obtain a normal final height.

Conclusions: The dynamics of growth in children with ISS showed a distinct pattern in the prepubertal and pubertal periods and puberty is significantly delayed in this population. These patterns could explain the unfavorable prognosis for children with ISS.