Analysis of the Potential for Height Growth at Different Stages of Puberty Based on Bone Age in Healthy Girls

Background: Many parents are concerned about their child's final height with the onset of the larche. We decided to investigate the height potential in different stages of puberty. Method: ۷۳۱ healthy girls who had not yet completed puberty were studied. Bone age and predicted final height were assessed. The correlation of height potential with various indices has been investigated. Results: The Mean age was ۹.۸۸±۱.۳ years. The girls have a mean height potential of ۲۸.۹۰, ۲۵.۶۴, ۲۰.۸۹, and ۱۳.۷۶ cm in thelarche stages of ۱, ۲, ۳, and ۴, respectively (p =۰.۰۰۱), and a mean height potential of ۲۷.۱۹, ۲۱.۴۶, ۱۵.۵۱ and ۱۱.۰۲ cm in pubarche stages of ۱, ۲, ۳ and ۴, respectively (p =۰.۰۰۱). Height potential was inversely related to pubarche stage (p-value =۰.۰۰۴) , chronological age (r = ۰.۷۴, p-value =۰.۰۰۱), bone age (p-value <۰.۰۰۱) and Height Standard Deviation score (SDS) (p <۰.۰۰۱). It was not related to the thelarche stage, target height, or BMI SDS. Linear regression showed that the height potential has a significant relationship with pubarche stage (P=۰.۰۰۴) but not with the thelarche stage ((P=۰.۲۶۷). Conclusion: This study found that potential height has no significant relationship with the thelarche stage. On the other hand, pubarche is associated with advanced bone age and lower height potential.