Background: A typical growth pattern with decreased pubertal growth spurt has been identified in patients with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of final height predictions in patients with CAH using the Bayley and Pinneau (B&P) method.
Patients and methods: Using growth and final height data of 92 patients (57 F/35 M) with CAH due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (38 SV/54 SW), final height predictions with the B&P method were compared to actual final heights.
Results: In females, mean final height was 159.9 +/- 5.3 cm (-1.0 +/- 0.7 SDS) compared to predicted mean final height of 167.9 +/- 10.7 cm (+0.5 +/- 1.7 SDS), p < 0.001, overestimation 7.3 +/- 9.5 cm. In males, mean final height was 170.1 +/- 6 cm (-1.2 +/- 0.8 SDS) compared to predicted mean final height of 185.6 +/- 13.4 cm (+1.2 +/- 1.9 SDS), p < 0.001, overestimation 13.9 +/- 10.8 cm.
Conclusion: In classical CAH, final height prediction using the B&P method results in significant overestimation of final height.