Growth hormone deficiency: a hidden obstetrical trauma?
Fetal presentation, mode of delivery and onset of labour were reviewed in 177 patients with documented growth hormone deficiency. Non-cephalic presentations were about ten times more frequent in this group of patients than in a control population. All children with breech position were delivered vaginally and spontaneously, suggesting a pituitary insult during vaginal delivery. 'True idiopathic' isolated growth hormone deficiency was frequently found in association with induction of labour. The data indicate that even a mild birth trauma may result in growth hormone deficiency.
Van den Broeck
J
J
Department of Pediatrics, Universities of Leuven, Belgium.
Vanderschueren-Lodeweyckx
M
M
Malvaux
P
P
Craen
M
M
Van Vliet
G
G
Dooms
L
L
Eggermont
E
E
D001946:Breech Presentation; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000172:deficiency; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007745:Labor Onset; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013006:Growth Hormone