DIAGNOSTIC AND ETIOLOGIC FEATURES OF IDIOPATHIC AND SYMPTOMATIC GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY IN THE NETHERLANDS - A SURVEY OF 176 CHILDREN

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (2) , 129-139
Abstract
In a survey of 176 children with hypopituitary growth failure, symptomatic growth hormone deficiency (organic disease) was found in 25, whereas 151 children had idiopathic growth hormone deficiency. An isolated deficiency of growth hormone (IGHD) was found in 69 children of the latter group, 82 children had multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD). The sex ratio (boys/girls) in all idiopathic cases was 2.4. Familial occurrence was encountered in 4 families. The disorder did not occur more often in firstborn than in later-born children. Breech delivery was found in 37.1% of all idiopathic cases; it occurred more frequently in MPHD than in IGHD and in boys than in girls. Fourteen of 143 children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency had a birthweight of 2500 g or less, which is more than the incidence in the country. The mean birthweight of children born at a gestational age of 38 wk or more was normal. In view of the high incidence of breech delivery (presumably with associated birth injury) and the high familial occurrence, the etiology in the majority of cases would be adequately described by a multifactorial mode of inheritance.