Growth and pubertal development of children with intrauterine growth retardation in the Moravian arm of ELSPAC study
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may be linked to short adult height. Some data suggest that early start or rapid progress of puberty can aggravate final short stature.
We aimed to compare the current height, final height predicted according to Bayley-Pinneau and course of puberty in children born small for gestational age (SGA) and in children with normal prenatal growth. We analyzed a cohort of 4183 children born in Brno within 16 months in 1991-1992 that are followed within the Moravian branch of the international multicentre study ELSPAC (European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood) for 15 years.
The current height at age 15 years was significantly lower in the SGA subjects compared to normally growing children (165.6 vs. 171.0 cm; p<0.001). In addition, the deficit in final height predicted according to Bayley-Pinneau and the mid-parental height was higher in the SGA cohort (2.91 vs. 0.22 cm; p<0.01).
Age at puberty onset and progression of puberty did not differ between both groups. These results confirm that earlier onset or rapid progression of puberty is not the prerequisite of lower final height in subjects born SGA and who were subsequently followed up in the ELSPAC study.