Restricted growth is exhibited as a common factor in over a hundred specific medical conditions. The resultant short stature in affected persons may be marked. Restricted growth falls into two main categories: proportionate and disproportionate short stature.

In proportionate short stature, growth is limited throughout the body. Specific conditions exhibiting this form of growth pattern are hormone deficiencies where hormones produced by the thyroid and pituitary glands may be deficient, damaged, absent or else the body is unable to process the substance. Early recognition of hormone deficiency is vital to subsequent development. In chromosome defects such as Turner syndrome restricted growth may be the only symptom prior to puberty. Chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease may be associated with restricted growth.

In disproportionate short stature (and sometimes proportionate short stature), the problem is often due to a disturbance in the growth of bones and cartilage .In some conditions this is evident at birth: in others evidence arises later. Specific disorders include: achondroplasia (see entry) with shortening of the limbs especially the upper arm and thigh; hypochondroplasia, a distinct condition with less severe growth restriction; diastrophic dysplasia growth restriction affects the trunk and limbs, is apparent at birth and may be serious and progressive; in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) disorders of the epiphyses( growing ends of the long bones) occur; spondylo epiphyseal dysplasia (SED) the epiphyses of the long bones and the spine are affected (there are two main types: SED congenita; SED tarda); pseudoachondroplasia has several types, which have differing characteristics; Morquio disease is a mucopolysaccharide disease which causes restricted growth.

Inheritance patterns
Sporadic mutations, autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked all occur. The specific type of inheritance will vary with the condition.For example achondroplasia has autosomal dominant inheritance, while in diastrophic dysplasia it is autosomal recessive. Genetic advice should be offered.

Prenatal diagnosis
Amniocentesis at fourteen to six teen weeks, chorionic villus sampling at ten to twelve weeks and ultrasound scanning at around twenty weeks are available depending upon the condition.

Medical text written November 1991 by Contact a Family. Approved November 1991 by Professor M Patton, Professor of Medical Genetics, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK and Dr J E Wraith, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Last reviewed September 2005 by Dr R Stanhope, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

Further Online Resources
Medical texts in The Contact a Family Directory are designed to give a short, clear description of specific conditions and rare disorders. More extensive information on this condition can be found on a range of reliable, validated web sites and links to them are included in the CD-ROM version of this Directory. Further information on these resources can be found in our Medical Information on the Internet article.

RESTRICTED GROWTH ASSOCIATION

Restricted Growth Association
PO Box 4008
Yeovil BA20 9AW
Tel: 01935 841364 (Mon, Wed &Thur, 9am-5pm; Tues, 9am-9pm; Fri, 9am-12noon)
Fax: 01935 841364
e-mail: office@restrictedgrowth.co.uk
Web: http://www.restrictedgrowth.co.uk

The Association is a National Registered Charity No. 261647, established in 1970 as the Association for Research in Restricted Growth (ARRG). It offers support for affected families and individuals. It has welfare and counselling services together with a regional contact network. It gives information about clothing, employment, mobility and home aids. It publishes a quarterly newsletter and has information available, details on request. The Association has over 2,500 members.

Group details last confirmed April 2007.

CHILD GROWTH FOUNDATION

Child Growth Foundation
2 Mayfield Avenue
Chiswick
London
W4 1PW
Tel: 020 8994 7625
020 8995 0257
Fax: 020 8995 9075
e-mail: jenny.cgf@btopenworld.com
Web: http://www.childgrowthfoundation.org

The Foundation is a National Registered Charity No. 274325, established in 1977. It acts as an umbrella organisation for Silver-Russell syndrome, Sotos syndrome, Growth Hormone Insufficiency/MPHD, Bone dysplasia (Achondroplasia and other Bone dysplasia's) Premature Sexual Maturation and Turner syndrome. It offers support and advice to families of children with growth conditions and adults. It also offers contact with other families if required. It publishes a bi-annual newsletter and holds an annual convention for its members. Information booklets are available on request. Please send large SAE.

Group details last updated April 2007.