To determine frequency of etiological factors in short statured patients presenting at an endocrine clinic of a tertiary care hospital

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of etiological factors in short statured patients presenting at endocrine clinic of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. METHODS This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at Endocrine clinic of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi. One hundred children (48 boys and 52 girls) aged 3-15 years (mean 9.9±3.4) with short stature from January 2007 to July 2007 were evaluated during that period. RESULTS Constitutional growth delay (CGD) and familial short stature (FSS) were identified as the most common, 55% of all short stature cases. Non-endocrinal causes as a single entity was detected in 17 children. Most common etiological factors in order of frequency were normal variant of growth (CGD, FSS), Hypothyroidism, Growth Hormone deficiency (GHD), and Celiac disease. GHD was found in 13% of total cases and it comprises 44% among endocrinal causes. Boys outnumbered girls with ratio of 2.7:1 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Most common cause of short stature was normal variants of growth as a group. Children with height falling below 0.4(th) percentile are more likely to have pathological cause.