Final height and growth hormone secretion after completion of growth hormone therapy in patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and with abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary region.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was an evaluation of final height and growth hormone (GH) secretion after completion of GH therapy (retesting) in patients with GH deficiency (GHD).


METHODS
The analysis comprised 53 patients (43 boys, 10 girls) with childhood-onset GHD, who completed GH therapy and reached final height. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed in all the patients, led to the following groups: pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS), pituitary hypoplasia (HP), craniopharyngioma (CP) -- patients after tumour excision, patients with normal hypothalamic-pituitary region (NP).


RESULTS
In 51 patients, final height was normal. The height gain was significantly (p<0.05) greater in PSIS than in that other groups. In retesting, GH secretion was significantly (p<0.005) lower in PSIS and CP than in HP and in NP and also (p<0.05) in HP than in NP. Permanent severe GHD was confirmed in all the patients with PSIS and CP and in some patients with HP (37.5%), while it was excluded in all the patients with normal pituitary in MRI.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that in patients with PSIS and CP, the confirmation of persistent character of GHD needs no retesting, while in patients with normal MRI results, GHD diagnosis should be established with special attention.
Hilczer
Maciej
M
Department of Endocrinology and Isotope Therapy, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. endo-iczmp@lodz.home.pl
Smyczynska
Joanna
J
Stawerska
Renata
R
Lewinski
Andrzej
A
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000002:abnormalities; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone