Near Final Height in Males treated with Aromatase Inhibitors

Data on the impact of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy on final or near-final adult height (FNFH) in males with short stature is limited. This study investigates whether AI therapy improves FNFH in males with advanced or rapidly advancing bone age (ABA) and compromised predicted adult height.

Methods

Data were collected through retrospective chart review. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study cohort. Fisher’s exact test and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare outcomes.

Results

Of 72 patients reviewed, 59 (82%) received anastrozole, 11 (15%) received letrozole, and 2 (2.8%) switched from anastrozole to letrozole. Median treatment duration was 25 months (IQR: 18-32). Most common diagnoses included growth hormone deficiency (31%), early puberty and premature adrenarche (18%), idiopathic short stature (15%), overweight/obesity (14%). Growth hormone (GH) was used in 66%. The overall median gain in height (FNFH minus initial predicted height) was 1.2 cm (IQR: -1.9-4.2). Letrozole-treated patients showed a greater median height gain (4.2 cm, IQR: 0.6-13) compared to the anastrozole group (0.8 cm, IQR: -2.6-3.5; p=0.013) and reached a FNFH closer to mid-parental height (MPH) (p=0.031). Longer duration of treatment, therapy at earlier puberty stages, and GH therapy were all significantly associated with greater gain in height (p-values: 0.005, 0.012, and 0.022).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that letrozole is associated with greater gain in height compared to anastrozole in males with ABA. Other factors associated with greater gains are treatment at earlier stages of puberty, longer duration of treatment and concurrent GH therapy.

Keywords:

Near final height, aromatase inhibitor, anastrozole, letrozole, advanced bone age, compromised height prediction