ABSTRACT
In 7 cases of dwarfism with markedly delayed closure of the epiphyses, methyltestosterone was administered sublingually in doses of 5–10 (25) mg daily in combination with thyroid hormone in doses of 25–120 mg daily for 2–7 years. At the institution of treatment the patients were 9, 11, 15, 15, 16, 17 and 20 years old and were 95, 125, 119, 124, 120, 135 and 125 cm in height respectively. The bone age was in all cases checked against Greulich & Pyle's radiographic tables (1950).
During the first two years of therapy, 5 patients exhibited a more rapid increase of the bone age than was to be expected considering their chronological age. In 5 cases where the therapy was continued over a longer period of time, such a tendency was not demonstrable later, although the dosage of methyltestosterone was often somewhat increased. On the contrary, a retardation of the bone age development occurred, as compared with the chronological age. In none of the present cases have the epiphyses become closed, notwithstanding a considerable height increase in all cases, i. e. 15–29 cm depending on the length of the period of treatment, and the relatively advanced age of the patients at the time of writing when they are still under androgen therapy with or without thyroid medication.
Provided that the bone age is continuously checked, it appears that methyltestosterone in small doses can safely be used in the treatment of dwarfism with delayed closure of the epiphyses. This trea[ill]ment proved to be of great importance from the point of view of the choice of a vocation as well as for the future life of the patients.