[Definitive body height in constitutional retardation of growth and puberty]

Background: Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is a frequent cause of short stature in childhood. Controversial results have been reported on the full achievement of these patients of their target height. Patients and methods: The final adult height of 20 patients with CDGP (11 male and 9 female), who did not received hormonal treatment, was compared with their target height and with the predicted adult height, by the Bayley-Pinneau method obtained before the onset of puberty. Results: A spontaneous improvement of the stature from pre-puberty to adulthood was observed in all patients (from -2.9 +/- 0.7 SDS to -1.3 +/- 0.6 SDS in male and from -2.6 +/- 0.6 SDS to -0.9 +/- 0.3 SDS in female; P < 0.001). Adult height in male (166.4 +/- 4.1 cm) at the mean age of 21 years was very close to the target height (165.7 +/- 3.9 cm) and to the predicted adult height (167.3 +/- 3.1 cm). Also in female, final height (156.6 +/- 2.0 cm) did not differ from target height (153.3 +/- 4.2 cm) and from predicted adult height (155.6 +/- 2.3 cm). Conclusions: In our experience, patients with CDGP reach their predicted adult height and achieve their genetic potential without medical treatment.