A hypopituitary patient who attained tall stature without growth hormone.
We describe an unusual patient with hypopituitarism who attained tall stature even without growth hormone (GH). A 37-year-old man was devoid of secondary sexual characteristics, but manifested tall stature with a eunuchoidal feature. Serum levels of GH, insulin-like growth factor-I, gonadotropins and testosterone were all below normal. GH secretion was not enhanced by any provocative stimulus. Adrenocorticotropic hormone increased after administration of corticotropin releasing hormone, but not after insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Thyrotropin increased in response to thyrotropin releasing hormone, but both free T3 and T4 did not rise. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed a transected pituitary stalk. The present patient had hypopituitarism due to perinatal problems but had grown with the aid of non-GH growth-promoting factors, which suggests that man may be able to achieve statural growth even without GH.
Kageyama
K
K
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Aomori.
Watanobe
H
H
Nasushita
R
R
Nishie
M
M
Horiba
N
N
Suda
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005058:Eunuchism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology*
D006062:Gonadotropins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone