title: Growth retardation and reduced growth hormone secretion in a boy with achalasia.
abstract: A 15-year-old boy with achalasia of the oesophagus is described in whom growth retardation was the presenting and misleading symptom. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I secretion were decreased but GH therapy was unsuccessful. After pneumatic dilatation of the oesophageal sphincter catch up growth occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children with inconclusive results of GH stimulation tests and unresponsiveness to GH treatment, rare causes of growth retardation due to malnutrition or malabsorption should be considered.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schober
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frisch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004106:Dilatation; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone