Definition:
Growth hormone deficiency refers to abnormally short height in childhood due to the lack of growth hormone. See also: Short stature
Alternative Names:
Panhypopituitarism; Dwarfism; Pituitary dwarfism; Recombinant human GH (rhGH); Acquired growth hormone deficiency; Congenital growth hormone deficiency
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
An abnormally short height in childhood (called short stature) may occur if there is not enough growth hormone produced. Growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. Most of the time, no cause is found. Growth hormone deficiency may be present at birth (congenital) or acquired as the result of an injury or medical condition. Children with physical defects of the face and skull, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, can also have decreased growth hormone levels. Growth hormone deficiency also can be caused by severe brain injury. Growth retardation may first be noticed in infancy and continue throughout childhood. The pediatrician will usually plot the child's "growth curve" on a standardized growth chart. The child's growth may range from flat (no growth) to very shallow (minimal growth). Normal puberty may or may not occur, depending on how well the pituitary gland can produce hormones other than growth hormone. Although it is uncommon, growth hormone deficiency may also be diagnosed in adults. Possible causes include:
References:
Parks JS, Felner EI. Hypopituitarism. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 558. Reiter EO, Rosenfeld RG. Normal and aberrant growth. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:chap 23.
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