EXPERIENCES IN TREATING EXCESSIVE HEIGHT IN GIRILS WITH CYCLIC OESTRADIOL VALERATE - A 10 YEAR SURVEY

Nineteen prepubertal girls ages 8-10 were treated cyclically with estradiol valerate. They showed a marked generalized anabolic effect. Their linear average growth was 10.8 cm and their average weight gain was 8.73 kg. The bone age advanced a maximum of 44 mo. in the youngest patient. The average advance at the end of one year was 34 mo. There was a marked increase in the size of the breasts. In the 11 year group of 8 girls after one year of therapy, their height increment was 7.3 cm. In the pubertal girls, ages 12-16, their growth only averaged 3.4 cm, the average bone age advance was 27.5 mo. A total of 27 girls have now reached their full stature. The best results are therefore obtained in preventing excessive height if therapy is initiated between the ages of 8 and 10. The saving becomes progessively less as one approaches a bone age of 15 when it is nil. The chronic administration of oral estrogens may cause serious side effects and therefore is to be avoided.