Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 22, Issue 2 , Pages 87-89, June 2010

The Etiology of Short Stature in Children in Eastern Taiwan: A Retrospective Study

  • Chien-Wen Yang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yu-Hsun Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chia-Hsiang Chu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shao-Yin Chu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Medical Education, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, 707, Section 3, Chung-Yang Road, Hualien, Taiwan

Received 26 May 2010; received in revised form 10 June 2010; accepted 30 June 2010.

Article Outline

Abstract 

Objective

To study the etiology of short stature in children in eastern Taiwan.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study included patients referred to Hualien Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital for evaluation of short stature from 2002 to 2008. Data were collected from medical records, and included body height and weight by percentile, maternal history, birth history, past medical history, relevant hematological and biochemical investigations, urinalysis, levels of growth and thyroid hormones, bone age, and genetic study.

Results

A total of 139 children were enrolled. Sixty (43.2%) were classified as having idiopathic short stature, 48 (34.5%) were attributed to underlying disease such as gastrointestinal disorder or chronic illness, 14 (10.1%) had been small for gestational age at birth and their growth had not caught up with that of their peers, 11 (7.9%) were diagnosed with familial short stature, and 6 (4.3%) were diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency.

Conclusion

Idiopathic short stature was the most common etiology of short stature in children in eastern Taiwan. The incidence of short stature attributed to underlying disease seems to be higher than in other areas of Taiwan. The percentage of small-for-gestational-age children without catch-up growth was also higher in eastern Taiwan than in other areas.

Keywords:  Eastern Taiwan , Etiology , Short stature

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References 

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PII: S1016-3190(10)60046-8

doi:10.1016/S1016-3190(10)60046-8

Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 22, Issue 2 , Pages 87-89, June 2010

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