New aspects of oestrogen/gestagen-induced growth and endocrine changes in individuals with turner syndrome

Abstract

Patients with Turner syndrome (n=33) were subjected to a sequential oestrogen/gestagen replacement therapy (21 days 2 mg oestradiol valerate plus 0.5 mg norgestrel for 10 days) for 1–4 years. In individuals aged 12–17 years, growth velocities before treatment ranged between 2.9 and 1.9 cm/year and increased to 6.8–3.8 cm/year following sex steroid substitution for 1 year. Thereafter a decrease was observed; depending on age, pre-treatment velocities were observed within 2–4 years of replacement therapy. On average, bone age advanced 1 year following 1 year of sex steroid administration and adult bone age was reached following 2–4 years of treatment. Approximately 70% of the invididuals noted breast development to stage IV according to Tanner and experienced regular withdrawal bleedings. Oral administration of oestradiol valerate resulted in serum oestradiol levels normally seen during the early follicular phase; hypergonadotropic LH and FSH levels decreased slightly following 1 year of therapy. Growth ranged between 4 and 13 cm; in the oldest individuals the final height ranged between 149 and 156 cm. In summary, the oestrogen/gestagen replacement therapy chosen for this study achieved development of secondary sex characteristics, endocrine changes, growth velocities, bone age advancement and to a certain extent growth, which was almost comparable to that observed during puberty in healthy girls.