Prospective clinical and laboratorial evaluation in 851 children referred for short stature at a pediatric endocrinology clinic

Growth is a sensitive indicator of a child s health, nutritional state and genetic background. Poor growth can be the first and only sign of various chronic diseases. Any growth failure should be investigated to differentiate normal variants in healthy children from a disease that requires treatment. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the importance of basal clinical and auxological examination, evaluate sex differences and quantify the prevalence of final diagnosis in 851 children prospectively evaluated for short stature in the Out Patient Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic at Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. A complete anamnesis and physical exam were performed. After written parental consent, an evaluation was conducted, including various laboratory exams and bone age. Short stature girls without a clear diagnosis were submitted to karyotyping.