Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics. prescribers case studies

Woo Page 1 of 1 Pharmacotherapeutics 5e Ch19 Student CS Chapter 19: Drugs Affecting the Endocrine System: Pituitary, Thyroid, and Adrenal Drugs

Student Case Study

Parents have been very concerned about the slow growth of their son. He persistently is at the

lowest percentiles of height in his class. They believe this is starting to impact his self-identify

and confidence. They have read that taller people do better in the US business world. They

believe that height is linked with more promotions and selection for leadership positions. They

are asking if he would be a good candidate for growth hormones. The mother is 5 foot 4 inches,

and the father is 5 foot 6 inches. They were never on the lower scale for height at school in

Mexico City. The child has gained less then 2cm of height in the past year.

1. Using the average expected growth scale, what is the estimated height that this child would

be expected to reach based on parental size?

2. What other information must be gathered from the parents?

3. What might be a consideration about the genetics of this child that can make the

determination of height unreliable using the calculations above?

4. The fact remains that this particular child is not progressing as expected. Is he a candidate

for consultation with an endocrinologist?