Growth and development patterns of Noonan syndrome and advances in the treatment of short stature

LI Xin; WEN Tian; FENG Bi-Yun; WANG Xiu-Min

doi:10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2409047

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Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (1) : 33-38. DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2409047

SERIES REVIEW—DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF GROWTH DISORDERS

Growth and development patterns of Noonan syndrome and advances in the treatment of short stature

LI Xin, WEN Tian, FENG Bi-Yun, WANG Xiu-Min

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Abstract

Patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) are born with normal or slightly lower body length and weight compared to the normal ranges. However, their height gradually falls behind that of the general population, leading to growth retardation and delayed puberty. In China, the incidence of short stature in patients with NS is approximately 65%. Short stature in these patients arises from multiple causes, including feeding difficulties in infancy, comorbidities such as congenital heart disease, genetic heterogeneity, and disorders of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. Growth hormone is commonly used to alleviate symptoms of short stature. This article reviews the growth and development patterns at different stages of NS, analyzes the causes of short stature, and summarizes the latest advances in treatment to provide new insights for the diagnosis and management of short stature in patients with NS.

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Noonan syndrome / Growth and development / Short stature / Growth hormone

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LI Xin, WEN Tian, FENG Bi-Yun, WANG Xiu-Min. Growth and development patterns of Noonan syndrome and advances in the treatment of short stature[J]. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. 2025, 27(1): 33-38 https://doi.org/10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2409047

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