What is the best method for estimating final height in patients with precocious puberty?

Central precocious puberty is the premature activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to an early epiphyseal fusion and, in many cases, heights below the genetic target. Therefore, a proper adult stature prediction is essential for the treatment decision. Objective: To compare the concordance of final height using height prediction made by two validated methods versus the genetic target height in girls who consulted due to central precocious puberty. Patients and Method: Retrospective, non-concurrent cohort study including 93 girls with central precocious puberty, who were not treated with LHRH analogs and had reached their final adult height. The data was obtained from the clinical records. To predict height, the Bayley-Pinneau method and the Roche-WainerThissen method were applied, and the results were compared with the genetic target height. The concordance between the estimated final height and the final height obtained was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method. Results: When comparing the final height obtained with that predicted by the Bayley-Pinneau method, there was a mean difference of 1.01 cm, and using the Rocke-Wainer-Thissen method, there was a difference of +0.96 cm. The calculation of the genetic target height showed a difference of +0.05 cm with respect to the final height. Conclusion: The prediction of height made by the Bayley-Pinneau and Roche-Wainer-Thissen methods was adequate and, contrary to expectations, it was similar to the calculation of the genetic target height that does not use the age of bone maturation. This also presented better concordance and less dispersion of the results with respect to the final height obtained.

Automated summary

This study compared the concordance of two validated height prediction methods and genetic target height in girls with central precocious puberty. The results showed that these two methods provided similar height predictions compared to the calculation of genetic target height, and had better concordance with the final height obtained.