Growth

Growth Hormone Deficiency

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Growth Hormone Deficiency, GH Deficiency, Somatotropin Deficiency

  • See Also
  1. Short Stature
  2. Hypopituitarism
  3. Pituitary Gland
  • Epidemiology
  1. Incidence: 1 in 3,000 to 9,000
  • Causes
  1. Congenital
  2. Acquired
    1. Head Trauma
    2. CNS Infection
    3. Birth Trauma
    4. Cranial irradiation
  • Signs
  • Congenital GH Deficiency (newborns)
  1. Normal size at birth
    1. Subsequently falls off height growth curve
    2. Weight for age is preserved
  2. Episodic Hypoglycemia
  3. Prolonged Neonatal Jaundice
  4. Microphallus
  5. Midline craniofacial abnormalities
  • Signs
  • Adults
  1. Fatigue
  2. Decreased Muscle mass and strength
  3. Increased visceral fat
  4. Premature atherosclerosis
  • Imaging
  1. Bone Age Film
    1. Delayed Bone Age
  2. Brain MRI
  • Labs (in Consultation with pediatric endocrinology)
  1. Screening
    1. Insulinlike Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)
    2. Insulinlike Growth Factor binding Protein 3
  2. Diagnosis
    1. Negative Growth Hormone provocation test
    2. Pituitary Function Tests
  • Management
  1. Pediatric Endocrinology referral
  2. Recombinant Growth Hormone injections daily
  • References
  1. (2000) J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92(3): 804-10 [PubMed]
  2. Barstow (2015) Am Fam Physician 92(1): 43-50 [PubMed]