ISSN:
1432-1076
Keywords:
Growth
;
Short stature, Bias
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We have examined the records of 21 short children evaluated for growth hormone deficiency and found not to be deficient. Their growth velocity was evaluated for at least 6 months, both before and after testing. Without any specific therapeutic intervention, growth velocity was significantly higher after testing, as compared with before. We attribute this apparent “therapeutic” effect of testing to a selection bias, due to the fact that, in normal clinical practice, children are selected for testing immediately following a period of slow growth, and that decelerations of growth are very often transient. Studies of growth-stimulating treatments using children as their own controls should, for this reason, be interpreted with caution.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00442467
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