title: Overgrowth.
abstract: The predominant influences on fetal growth are maternal and placental factors. Post-natal growth is regulated by a complex interaction between genetic, environmental and hormonal influences. The role of the growth hormone insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF) system is explored, including the emerging role of IGF-2 in fetal growth. Increasing understanding of the genetics of overgrowth and short stature syndromes is contributing greatly to basic understanding of growth regulation. A range of prenatal overgrowth syndromes is discussed, including those associated with neonatal hyperinsulinism and hypoglycaemia.Post-natal overgrowth may be caused by a diverse range of normal variant conditions, endocrine disorders, chromosomal abnormalities and other genetic syndromes. An approach to diagnosis is presented and major conditions discussed in detail. Sex-steroid therapy for height limitation continues to be a controversial area with uncertainty about height prediction, benefits achieved and possible long-term side-effects.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambler
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006128:Growth; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans