Craniofacial proportions and anthropometric measurements among growth hormone deficient Egyptian children

Abstract

Introduction: Untreated children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have typical somatic features, including short stature, acromicria and distinctive craniofacial features including small head circumference. Patients and Methods: By using a cross sectional study design, we investigated the effect of GHD on craniofacial growth with photographic facial morphometrics & various anthropometric measurements, in 20 children with GHD compared with 20 healthy children and normal first degree relatives of
the same age and sex group. Results: Untreated children with GHD had retarded facial height & width (p<0.01) compared with the control group. Moreover all anthropometric
measurements (weight, height, head circumference, sitting height, arm span and sub-ischial leg length) were reduced in GHD children in comparison to controls (p<0.01) except ear length which was above 3rd percentile. Also small head circumference for chronologic age and for height age was observed in GHD children (p<0.01). In addition small hands and feet for age (below 3rd percentile) were found in untreated GHD children when compared with
normal controls. This report validates & quantifies the clinical impression of foreshortened facies in GHD children.

Keywords: Growth hormone deficieny, anthropometric measurements, craniofacial proportion.

Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics Vol. 9 (2) 2008: pp. 161-170