Parental heights of children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency: analysis from the Kabi International Growth Study.

Abstract

In an international study of children treated with growth hormone (GH), parental heights of 554 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) and of 248 children with secondary or 'organic' growth hormone deficiency (OGHD) were ascertained. The maternal height SDS of IGHD children was -0.41 +/- 1.26 (mean +/- SD) and the maternal height SDS of OGHD children was 0.03 +/- 1.11 (p less than 0.006). Paternal height SDS of IGHD children was -0.19 +/- 1.08, and paternal height SDS of OGHD children was 0.15 +/- 1.08 (p less than 0.006). Adverse deliveries were associated with significantly shorter mothers (p = 0.04) and a greater discrepancy between paternal and maternal heights (p less than 0.006).