Summary:
Objective: Investigation of the effect of a long-term oestrogen treatment on the growth and deve-
lopment of children, elaboration of a theoretical model for remaining growth of girls on a long-
term oestrogen therapy predicting reduction of the final height in girls with constitutionally tall
stature, analysis of early and late side-effects of therapy.
Type of study: Open clinical study.
Name and place of department: Endocrine out-patient clinic of the Second Paediatric Department
and gynaecological out-patient clinic for children and adolescents of the Gynaecological-Obstet-
ric Department, Second Medical School – Charles University and University Hospital Prague –
Motol.
Method: Elaboration of theoretical model for remaining growth of girls on a long-term oestrogen
therapy was based on an analysis of the remaining growth of upper and lower body segment of
healthy Czech girls.
Results: The extent of assumed reduction of the final height in girls with constitutionally tall
stature treated with oestrogen declines with advancing age at the onset of treatment. The optimal
age for the onset of treatment is between 10 and 11 years.
Conclusion: Treatment can be recommended only in girls with growth prediction above 185 cm
and serious psychological difficulties resulting from excessive height, always after careful analy-
sis of the biological development and growth prediction. In every case it is necessary to evaluate the possible benefit of treatment in relation to potential risks. The greatest problem is according
to the authors late onset and overrating of the therapeutic possibilities.
Key words:
constitutionally tall stature, oestrogen, remaining growth, growth prediction, reducti-
on of final height.
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