Final heights in 45,X Turner's syndrome with spontaneous sexual development. Review of European and American reports.

Abstract

Study objective: To assess the effect of endogenous estrogen secretion on the final heights of patients with 45,X Turner's syndrome.

Design: European and American reports of patients with 45,X Turner's syndrome and spontaneous sexual maturation in which final heights were available were analyzed and compared with existing norms for untreated patients with Turner's syndrome. Subgroups of patients were compared as a means of distinguishing low from normal endogenous estrogen exposure, and the effect of the age of menarche was assessed.

Patients: Twenty-three cases were collected, including eight who became pregnant. One had full somatic maturation but did not menstruate. RESULTS OF ANALYSES: Mean height of all 23 patients was 140.8 cm +/- 8.07 (s.d.) vs 143.1 cm +/- 6.0 (p = 0.035) for literature norms for Turner's syndrome. Mean height of those who achieved pregnancy was 138.6 cm +/- 8.21 (p = 0.035 vs literature norm); of those with normal gonadotropins 137.5 cm +/- 6.03; and of those with high gonadotropins 139.2 cm +/- 1.44 (p = 0.374). Age of menarche was available in 21 and showed no correlation with final height.

Conclusions: Physiological and subphysiological endogenous secretion of estrogen in Turner's syndrome does not increase final height, suggesting that even low-dose exogenous estrogen would not increase ultimate stature in these patients.