RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe the final height and height-gain in relation to target height, in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and analyse their relationship to different variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the growth data of 52 children (27 girls) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus before 14 years old, and followed up until their final height was attained. MAIN VARIABLES: final height, target height, illness duration, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin dose, BMI, and other autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: The height SDS (standard deviation scale) at diagnosis was slightly higher (0.734 in boys and 0.563 in girls). During the development of the disease, a growth reduction was seen, which was significantly higher in boys of prepubertal age (p = 0.016). The mean final height attained was 173.14 +/- 5.28 cm in boys and 161.9 +/- 6.97 cm in girls. Height gain was 1.56 +/- 3.66 in boys (SDS = -0.034) and 2.26 +/- 6.13 in girls (SDS = 0.385). The only variable significantly related to height gain was mean glycated-haemoglobin (growth reduction of 2 cm for every increment of 1% in mean glycated-haemoglobin). CONCLUSIONS: At onset, diabetic children were slightly taller than the general population. A growth reduction was shown as the disease developed, significantly higher in boys of prepubertal age. The final height in boys was slightly lower than the mean, but in girls was similar to the general population. Both sexes attained their target height, although the height gain was less in boys. Poorer metabolic control was associated with reduced height gain.