Craniofacial proportions and anthropometric measurements among growth hormone deficient Egyptian children

Abstract EN

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 morphometries and 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 and 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 and quantifies the clinical impression of foreshortened faces in GHD children.