[Excessive androgens and short stature in childhood].

Sex steroids play important role for bone maturation and statural growth in childhood, especially puberty. The closure of epiphyseal growth plate cartilage is regulated mainly by estrogens. Aromatization of androgens to estrogens is working in men as well as women. Thus, androgens are directly related to epiphyseal growth and maturation. In clinical conditions such as precocious puberty, excessive androgens production occurs in prepubertal period. This advances bone maturation as well as pubertal change resulting in short stature because of premature closure of epiphyseal growth plate. Various causes of precocious puberty are now identified.