Experiences with Human Growth Hormone in Pituitary Dwarfism

Authors:
  • MSM. Seip
    M. Seip
  • OTO. Trygstad
    O. Trygstad
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Abstract
Summary: Experiences with HGH treatment of twelve hypopituitary dwarfs for periods varying from 6 to 41 months are reported.All the patients were considered to have hypopituitarism from birth, four of them of the hereditary type, four possibly due to traumatic birth or neonatal asphyxia, and four from an unknown cause. In six patients detailed information concerning growth during the first year of life could be obtained. All of these patients had a degree of growth retardation before one year of age. We consider this to be the rule rather than the exception in pituitary dwarfism.The most important diagnostic evidence was a marked degree of growth retardation accompanied by a pronounced delay in skeletal maturation, and, in most cases, signs of secondary hypothyroidism, increased insulin sensitivity, and a poor response to metopirone administration. None of the patients who had passed the normal age of puberty had matured sexually.All twelve patients responded well to HGH therapy. During the first year of treatment the average height increment was 10 cm (“catch‐up” growth). With continued treatment a normal rate of growth, about 6 cm/year, was obtained. There was no disproportionate acceleration of skeletal maturation in any of the patients. None of them has so far become resistant to HGH administration. The oldest patient has reached normal height. Whether this will be possible not only in the moderately severe, but also in the most severe cases of pituitary dwarfism, can not yet be stated.The possibility of using human gonadotrophic hormones in an attempt to produce sexual maturation in these patients is discussed briefly.

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