Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Growth and development

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia—glucocorticoids and height

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is usually treated with steroid hormones, but these can inhibit growth when administered at high doses, especially during early to mid-adolescence. A retrospective observational study identifies the dose of glucocorticoids that should be used to maximize pubertal growth while achieving desired height.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Bonfig, W. et al. Hydrocortisone dosing during puberty in patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia: an evidence based recommendation. J. Clin. Endocrinol. 94, 3882–3888 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hargitai, G. et al. Growth patterns and final height in congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency: results of a multicenter study. Horm. Res. 55, 161–171 (2001).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Punthakee, Z., Legault, L. & Polychronakos, C. Prednisolone in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency: a re-evaluation of relative potency. J. Pediatr. 143, 402–405 (2003).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rivkees, S. A. & Crawford, J. D. Dexamethasone treatment of virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia: the ability to achieve normal growth. Pediatrics 106, 767–773 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Aycan, Z. et al. Experience with long-term glucocorticoid treatment in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: growth pattern compared with genetic height potential. J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab. 19, 245–251 (2006).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Jääskeläinen, J. & Voutilainen, R. Growth of patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency: an analysis of the factors influencing adult height. Pediatr. Res. 41, 30–33 (1997).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Silva, I. N., Kater, C. E., Cunha, C. F. & Viana, M. B. Randomised controlled trial of growth effect of hydrocortisone in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Arch. Dis. Child. 77, 214–218 (1997).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Clayton, P. E. et al. Consensus statement on 21-hydroxylase deficiency from the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and The European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87, 4048–4053 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Merke, D. P. et al. Flutamide, testolactone, and reduced hydrocortisone dose maintain normal growth velocity and bone maturation despite elevated androgen levels in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 85, 1114–1120 (2000).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lin-Su, K. et al. Treatment with growth hormone and luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog improves final adult height in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 90, 3318–3325 (2005).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Speiser, P. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia—glucocorticoids and height. Nat Rev Endocrinol 6, 14–15 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.242

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2009.242

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing