Oxandrolone in Girls with Turner's Syndrome

Abstract
Twenty-six 1 yr treatment periods on oxandrolone (0.1 mg/kg per day) were studied in 20 patients with Turner''s syndrome. Control patients with Turner''s syndrome were matched by using the following criteria: difference in bone age not greater than 0.5 yr and difference in the Bayley-Pinneau height prediction not greater than 3 cm. Height and height velocity were compared with standards of girls with Turner''s (10) and expressed in SD scores (SDS). On oxandrolone, height velocity increased significantly from -0.3 SDS to +3.0 SDS. The increase in height velocity was negatively correlated to the bone age at onset of treatment (r = -0.62, P < 0.01). Height SDS improved by 0.45 SDS in the treated patients whereas it did not change in the control patients. The bone age velocity during the treatment period (including a 6-month period after treatment) was 0.75 yr/yr in the treated, compared to 0.66 yr/yr in the control patients (NS). Fifteen of the 20 patients have reached final height. The difference in final height minus predicted height (Bayley-Pinneau) at onset of treatment was taken as a measure of gain in final height. Seven of those (mean bone age 12.1 yr at onset of treatment) were treated for 1 yr only and had, compared to the matched controls, a mean net gain in final height of 2.5 cm (NS). Eight patients (mean bone age 10.1 yr at onset of treatment) were treated for 2 1-yr periods and had a significant mean net gain in final height of 5.2 cm. Height predictions calculated gave an identical mean net gain in final height (5.1 cm).