Growth hormone therapy and near-final height in SHOX deficiency and turner syndrome: a real-world single-center retrospective cohort study


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OKTAY M. A., DÖĞER E., KILINÇ UĞURLU A., Kayhan G., YİRMİBEŞ KARAOĞUZ M., ÇAMURDAN M. O., ...Daha Fazla

European Journal of Pediatrics, cilt.185, sa.7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 185 Sayı: 7
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s00431-026-07135-7
  • Dergi Adı: European Journal of Pediatrics
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Growth hormone therapy, Near final height, SHOX deficiency, Turner syndrome
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Short stature homeobox‐containing (SHOX)-gene haploinsufficiency causes short stature both in isolated SHOX deficiency and in Turner syndrome (TS), yet head-to-head data on growth-hormone (GH) outcomes remain scarce. We therefore compared growth response and near-final height (NFH) after GH therapy between girls with SHOX deficiency and those with TS. Single-centre retrospective cohort study. In this single-centre retrospective cohort, we reviewed 44 pre-pubertal girls who received daily GH (mean 0.045 mg/kg/day) between 2015 and 2024 and subsequently reached NFH (bone age ≥ 14 y; height velocity < 2 cm/year). Ten had molecularly confirmed SHOX deficiency and 34 had karyotype-proven TS. Baseline auxology, annual height velocity, pubertal timing, treatment duration, NFH standard-deviation score (SDS) and total height SDS gain were analysed. Mean chronological and bone ages at GH initiation were similar (10.7 ± 1.9 vs 10.4 ± 2.7 years). Baseline height SDS was lower in TS (–3.51 ± 1.0) than in SHOX (–2.66 ± 0.8). First-year growth velocity was higher in SHOX (8.55 ± 1.4 cm/year) than TS (6.72 ± 1.9 cm/year; p = 0.01). Puberty began earlier in SHOX (11.6 ± 1.3 years) than TS (13.7 ± 1.5 years; p < 0.01), and GH exposure was shorter (2.00 ± 0.4 vs 4.38 ± 2.3; p < 0.01). Observed NFH-SDS was similar between groups (SHOX − 2.46 ± 1.2 vs TS − 2.47 ± 1.0). Unadjusted height-SDS gain was greater in TS (1.04 ± 0.1 vs 0.20 ± 0.2;p = 0.04). In exploratory ANCOVA models adjusting for baseline age, baseline height SDS, and GH treatment duration, adjusted height-SDS gain did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions: TS was associated with a greater unadjusted height-SDS gain, whereas SHOX deficiency was characterized by earlier puberty and shorter GH exposure. Although observed NFH-SDS was similar, these findings highlight how differences in pubertal timing and treatment duration may influence growth outcomes in routine clinical practice and should be interpreted as reflecting real-world growth trajectories rather than intrinsic biological responsiveness to GH therapy. (Table presented.)