Estrogen Therapy in Inhibition of Growth

Abstract

The effects of high doses of exo?genous estrogen in limiting excessive linear growth in a group of 24 adolescent girls, ranging in age from 11 to 15 yr. are analyzed. The patients were divided into groups based on age at onset of therapy, and net growth inhibition was assessed on the basts of growth projections for each age category. Results were analyzed by the individual com?parison t test and Duncan''s multiple range test. Projections were based both on chronologic age and skeletal age. The results suggest significantly greater inhibition of growth when therapy is started before the age of 12.5 yr. as compared to older patients. The inherent limita?tion of the study is in the prediction of future growth. This is discussed in detail in the text.