Reply #44: "High-dose estrogen both inhibits growth and rapidly advances maturation of the epiphyseal grow.." [View All]

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/160/10/1013

Attenuating Growth in Children With Profound Developmental Disability

A New Approach to an Old Dilemma

Daniel F. Gunther, MD, MA; Douglas S. Diekema, MD, MPH

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:1013-1017.

Caring for children with profound developmental disabilities can be difficult and demanding. For nonambulatory children with severe, combined neurologic and cognitive impairment, all the necessities of life must be provided by caregivers, usually parents, and these tasks become more difficult as the child grows to adolescence and adulthood. Many parents would like to continue caring for their child with special needs at home but find it difficult to do so as the child increases in size. If growth could be permanently arrested while the child was still small, both child and parent would likely benefit because this would facilitate the option of continued care in the home. Treatment of the child with high-dose estrogen, initiated at an early age, could provide this option. High-dose estrogen both inhibits growth and rapidly advances maturation of the epiphyseal growth plates, bringing about permanent attenuation in size after a relatively short period of treatment. We present a case report and discuss the medical and ethical considerations of such an intervention strategy. We suggest that after proper screening and informed consent, growth-attenuation therapy should be a therapeutic option available to these children should their parents request it.


Author Affiliations: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology (Dr Gunther) and Center for Pediatric Bioethics (Dr Diekema), Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.


RELATED ARTICLE

Growth Attenuation: A Diminutive Solution to a Daunting Problem
Jeffrey P. Brosco and Chris Feudtner
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006;160:1077-1078.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Growth Attenuation: Unjustifiable Non-therapy
Bersani
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007;161:520-521.
FULL TEXT ........more........