Growth patterns in children itb cystic fibrosis Growth patterns in 50 patients with cystic fibrosis have been analyzed.
l. The fiftieth percentile in this population was found to be equivalent to the third to tenth percentile of a comparable normal group.
2. The deficit in height and weight became very marked in the preadolescent age group because of an absence of the preado lescent and adolescent growth spurt. Delay in skeletal maturation, however, was not more marked in the older children.
3. Two patterns of deficit in rate of growth were found: slow subnormal growth and plateaus of no growth. Plateaus accounted for all of the linear growth retardation under 9 years of age. Subnormal weight gain, however, is a significant factor from 2 years of age through adolescence.
4. There was no demonstrable relationship between the degree of pancreatic deficiency and the degree of growth deficit.
5. There was significant correlation between the severity of respiratory disease and growth deficiency for height and weight. All of the retardation in linear growth in children under 9 years of age and 60 per cent in those over the age of 9 was attributable to pneumonic episodes in which weight Iags occurred. A relationship was noted between periods of slow weight gain and respiratory status.
6. Following institution of therapy, rate of weight gain was equal to, or in excess of, normal. The duration of the effect was greater when therapy was instituted in infancy. There was no similar effect on linear growth.
7. There was no relationship between growth patterns and the use of any specific therapeutic agent.