Long Term Clinical Management of Girls with Turner Syndrome at a Center of Pediatric Endocrinology

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate clinical management of patients with Turner syndrome in one center over a long period.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 89 patients cared for between 1974 and 2004. Assessment of age and height at diagnosis, indications for karyotyping, induction of puberty and final height attainment.

Results: Average age at diagnosis was 8.21 years, with a significant decline over the observation period. Mean height SDS at diagnosis was −2.86. Main reasons for karyotyping were edema in youngest ages and growth retardation in ages older than 6 years. Puberty induction was started at a mean age of 13.93 years, with a significant decline over the observation period. Mean duration until menarche was 2.51 years. An appropriate clinical response with changes in Tanner stages was observed. Mean final height after GH therapy was 151.81 cm, height SDS for TS was increased by +1.82.

Conclusions: In recent study years, Turner Syndrome is being diagnosed at younger ages and at heights closer to normal heights. The clinical spectrum warrants karyotyping at an early age. In spite of late diagnoses, puberty induction was started within a physiological age in recent years and was, just as GH therapy, successful to mimic physiological progress in most instances.

Key words

Turner syndrome - age at diagnosis - height at diagnosis - induction of puberty - long term observation

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