Objective: In this study, we aimed to describe etiological profiles of children with short stature in a pediatric endocrinology clinic in Elazig province.

Material and Method: One thousand two hundred forty one children (684 boys) who had a height standard deviation score (SDS) of height ≤-2 at admission or follow-up were selected between 01.06.2013 and 01.06.2017. Retrospectively, hospital files of children were evaluated. The short stature was defined as height SDS ≤-3.

Results: The median age of the children was 11.2 years (range 0.2-18.0) and the frequency of severe short stature was 27.1%. The mean height SDS of children was -2.78±0.75, weight SDS 2.30±1.15 and body mass index SDS -0.87±1.36. Mean age of boys was higher than girls (10.2±4.8 and 9.6±4.9, respectively, p =0.007), and the frequency of boys was higher in the 12-18 age group (p =0.007). After 282 children were excluded due to inadequate follow-up, in remained 959 short children, 526 (54.8%) were defined as pathological short stature, 367 (38.3%) as normal variants growth (familial and/or structural) and 66 (6,9%) as idiopathic short stature. Malnutrition was the most common etiological cause with 27.3%, while endocrine disorders were second with 16.5%. In children with severe short stature, the prevalence of pathological short stature was 91.1%, and endocrine disorders were the most common etiological cause with 39.4% in this group.

Conclusion: This study shows that approximately one-third of children with short stature may have a normal variants growth and especially isolated malnutrition and endocrine diseases should be considered as the cause of pathological short stature.