Effect of the dose of oral hydrocortisone on growth rate during long-term treatment of children with salt losing congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

ABSTRACT

The effect of the dose of oral hydrocortisone on stature growth rate of patients with the salt losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adequate electrolyte balance was here assessed. Thirty patients (21 girls and 9 boys) were followed longitudinally for 0.52 to 8.64 years, between chronological ages 0.35 and 8.64 years. Nine consecutive periods (Ps) of follow up were defined in order to compare two auxological parameters, height (H) at the end of a follow up P and delta H standard deviation score (SDS). According to growth rate during a particular P, two types of Ps were defined Ps with delta H SDS > -0.5 (Group 1, satisfactory growth rate) and Ps with delta H SDS = or < -0.5 (Group 2, poor growth rate). A cut off value of 18.5 mg/m2/day of oral hydrocortisone (95