Growth hormone deficiency presenting under age 2 years.

Abstract

Twenty nine (1.8%) of a national cohort of 1600 patients with growth hormone deficiency presented before the age of 2 years. Sixteen of the 29 presented before 6 months of age--11 with symptomatic hypoglycaemia, four with failure to thrive, and one with obesity. Hypoglycaemia was persistent and difficult to control until growth hormone treatment was started. Ten of the 11 hypoglycaemic patients had multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies compared with two of the remaining five. Thirteen children presented between 6 months and 2 years of age; 12 had failure to thrive and one had spontaneous hypoglycaemia. Twelve of the 29 were boys and all but one of these had microgenitalia . Growth hormone deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with refractory hypoglycaemia and in boys with failure to thrive and microgenitalia .