DURING the past 25 years various investigators have used testosterone and its analogues to accelerate growth in short-statured children. Although in all cases a definite growth spurt was achieved,1-12 the clinical reports concerning the effect of testosterone in acceleration of osseous maturation have been rather controversial.2-5,9,11,12 The results of some studies2,3,12 indicated that there was undue acceleration of osseous maturation and sexual development as compared to linear growth and chronologic age (CA). Further investigations4,5,9,11 suggested that these untoward effects might be avoided when small to moderate doses of testosterone were used. Despite these reports, however, opinion concerning testosterone and its analogues as growth-promoting agents has continued to be guarded.12
In the past few years, several anabolic steroids have been synthesized in an attempt to minimize virilizing properties while retaining the anabolic effect. Clinical studies on these synthetic anabolic steroids have been carried out. Although growth