Patterns of growth from birth to maturity in infants and children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Patterns of growth of 30 children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia of the 21-hydroxylase type were studied from infancy to maturity. These children were compliant as to therapy. Intramuscular (I.M.) Cortisone (40 mg/M2) given every three days resulted in growth failure after the first year of life. A marked increase in height velocity occurred when oral Cortisone (20-25 mg/M2) was given at approximately 3 years. Growth was relatively normal during childhood in both boys and girls but there was a marked increase in mean weight in both sexes. Pubertal growth spurt occurred normally in males but was delayed in females. Weight decreased in both sexes at puberty but not to normal. Better methods of monitoring this condition should result in therapeutic regimes which allow normal growth patterns as well as normal mature height.