Growth Deceleration Patterns in Children With Constitutional Short Stature: An Aid to Diagnosis
1 Department of Pediatrics, Stanford (California) University Medical Center
A retrospective study of 263 children referred for evaluation of short stature revealed that 149 (56.7%) had constitutional short stature (CSS). A typical pattern of growth was observed in these children. As exemplified by 12 children who had complete serial growth measurements, exaggerated growth deceleration first became apparent between 3 and 6 months of age, was greatest in the first two years of life, and resulted in these children falling more than 2 SDs below the mean for height by 3 years of age. After 3 years of age, the growth rate of these children with CSS was essentially the same as that of normal children, and they ran parallel to the growth curve though below the third percentile. The importance of serial measurements and the growth chart is emphasized, and recommendations are made for the evaluation of short stature or abnormal growth deceleration in the first three years of life. Awareness of this typical pattern of growth in children without disease may aid the pediatrician in his evaluation of short stature and allow for watchful waiting when results of screening tests are normal.
Submitted on November 21, 1977Accepted on February 15, 1978
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. A. Wudy, S. Hagemann, A. Dempfle, G. Ringler, W. F. Blum, L. D. Berthold, G. Alzen, L. Gortner, and J. Hebebrand Children With Idiopathic Short Stature Are Poor Eaters and Have Decreased Body Mass Index Pediatrics, July 1, 2005; 116(1): e52 - e57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D Acampora, S Mazan, F Tuorto, V Avantaggiato, J. Tremblay, D Lazzaro, A di Carlo, A Mariano, P. Macchia, G Corte, et al. Transient dwarfism and hypogonadism in mice lacking Otx1 reveal prepubescent stage-specific control of pituitary levels of GH, FSH and LH Development, January 4, 1998; 125(7): 1229 - 1239. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Kaplowitz and J. Webb Diagnostic Evaluation of Short Children with Height 3 SD or More Below the Mean Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 1994; 33(9): 530 - 535. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. V. Solans and F. Lifshitz Body Weight Progression and Nutritional Status of Patients With Familial Short Stature With and Without Constitutional Delay in Growth Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 1992; 146(3): 296 - 302. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. PENNY Growth Retardation: Impaired Height Velocity Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 1989; 143(11): 1269 - 1270. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. B. Stickler Gastrostomy Dependence in Two Constitutionally Short Children Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, September 1, 1988; 142(9): 937 - 939. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. R. Rubin, J. M. Lichtenfels, S. K. Ratzan, M. Ozonoff, D. W. Rowe, and D. E. Carey Relationship of Somatomedin-C Concentration to Bone Age in Boys With Constitutional Delay of Growth Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 1986; 140(6): 555 - 558. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||








