Etiology of Short Stature in East Azerbaijan, Iran

Objective: Short stature is a common problem encountered by pediatricians and is the most common cause for referral to pediatric endocrinologists. Although most children referred with short stature are normal and classified as normal variants of stature (constitutional growth delay and familial short stature), it may sometimes be the only obvious manifestation of an endocrine or systemic disease. The objective of this study was to assess the characteristics of patients referred to pediatric endocrinology clinic because of short stature and determination of the etiology. Methods: Three hundred-seventy nine children and adolescents were studied which referred with short stature to pediatric endocrinology clinic. After complete clinical and paraclinical evaluation and appropriate treatment (if needed), patients were followed for at least six months. Findings: From 379 studied patients with a mean age of 9.7±3.7 years, 192 (50.7%) were girls and 187 (49.3%) boys (P=0.066); short stature in 132 (34.8%) of patients was not approved. Normal variants of Short stature (familial and constitutional) constituted 53.3% of etiology in short patients. In 11.5% of short patients, no obvious etiology was found, and 9.8% were born with intra uterine growth retardation. Other causes were growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, skeletal dysphasia, Turner syndrome, and malnutrition. Conclusion: A great number of children and adolescents referred with short stature to pediatric endocrinology clinics are not really short. Greater than half of short patients are normal variants of Short stature.