Clonidine treatment for short stature.

34 pubertal children with constitutional growth delay (CGD) were treated with clonidine orally twice a day. In 25 of the children the height velocity rose on clonidine treatment, and in 21 of them by more than 2 cm/yr during the first 6 months of treatment (mean [SD] growth increment 4.4 [0.5] cm/yr). Of the 22 who were treated for 12 months the increment in height velocity was maintained in 13 (3.4[0.4] cm/yr). Withdrawal of clonidine for 6 months did not stop the stimulatory effect of the drug on linear growth in 6 children, but in the other 8 children height velocities fell to pretreatment levels or below. In a few children reinstitution of clonidine for 2-4 months resulted in a new increment in height velocity. A high height standard deviation score and low growth velocity before treatment were predictive of a good growth response to clonidine. Clonidine did not induce noticeable side-effects. It may be a useful form of therapy for children with CGD.