Work

Height Assessments in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are shorter than their unaffected counterparts. Unfortunately, these reports did not consider other contributing factors that might also influence short stature. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the genetic influence of NF1 on the growth of children. Height data were measured and recorded for 170 patients, whereas parental measurements were obtained for 61 patients to calculate sex-corrected mid-parental target heights. Children with NF1 had population mean height and mid-parental height z scores statistically different from the general population. Importantly, these differences were pronounced when neither parent had NF1 but were not significant when one of the parents had NF1. Moreover, height z scores for children with NF1 were also statistically different than their unaffected siblings. Collectively, these data establish a clear effect of a germline NF1 gene mutation on stature in children with NF1.

Source: Journal of Child Neurology

DOI: 10.1177/0883073812446310

Authors: Elizabeth A. Soucy, Dorothy van Oppen, Nicole L. Nejedly, Feng Gao, David H. Gutmann, Abby S. Hollander

Institution: Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Neurofibromatosis and Schwannoma Cases

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, National Cancer Institute