Pituitary Nanism. What is it?

Dwarfism, or scientifically, pituitary nanism, is a pathology in which the physical development and growth is delayed, which is caused by inadequate synthesis and secretion of growth hormone (it is also called growth hormone).

This pathology is extremely rare, in about 2 people out of 10,000. Pituitary Nanizm reveals two more often in boys than in girls. Growth in men is considered dwarfish if it is below 130 cm, in women it is below 120 cm.

The most frequent reasons are the following:

• birth defects (in the intrauterine period, the anterior pituitary is not formed correctly),

• head trauma (including birthmarks);

• swelling of the pituitary gland or surrounding structures,

• hereditary predisposition,

• syphilis, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis,

• also transferred chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

However, in more than half the cases, the causes of dwarfism remain unsettled.

How does pituitary nanism develop?

The weight and height of children with insufficient secretion of growth hormone at birth does not differ from the corresponding values of healthy children. Most often, the first symptoms appear in children only at the age of 2-3 years: these children start not to keep up with the normal growth of their peers. The rate of growth sharply decreases, which does not exceed 3-4 cm / year (at a rate of about 8 cm / year). Despite the growth retardation, the normal proportions in the child's body persist.

In addition, pituitary insufficiency is also manifested by the following symptoms:

• underdevelopment of the reproductive system,

• there is an underdeveloped muscular system,

• arterial hypotension,

• Decrease in the rate of ossification of the skeleton, development and change of teeth are disturbed,

• In the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland or the surrounding parts of the brain, in addition to these symptoms, there is also a visual impairment.

As a rule, mental development with this disease does not suffer, patients usually have a good memory.

. To confirm the diagnosis of "pituitary nanism" it is necessary:

• Take tests for growth hormone. In addition, it may be necessary to test for the determination of other hormones. Maybe, hormonal tests will be needed: first the initial level in the blood of hormones is determined, after which the patient takes a medicine that influences the regulation of this hormone, after a certain time the analysis repeats.

• Perform a radiograph of the area of the Turkish saddle and skull to determine the size of the pituitary gland. Also for clarification, computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is performed, being painless procedures, they allow to see in detail the area of the pituitary and surrounding brain tissue. If a deterioration in vision is noted , an ophthalmologist's consultation is also necessary.

Gipofizarny nanizm is treated by a doctor-endocrinologist. The main method of restoring the level of somatotropin in the body is substitution therapy: the constant use of an artificial somatotropic hormone. To facilitate the calculation of dosage and the administration of growth hormone, special injection pens have now been developed.

With adequate therapy, the growth rate increases to normal values (8-12 cm / year), as a rule, only 3-4 cm / year are observed before the start of treatment. In the course of puberty, it is necessary to include sex hormones in the treatment regimen.

The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on the cause of the disease, which caused it. Most often, patients with adequate treatment achieve normal growth and adapt to environmental conditions.

Address to experts at the first signs of pituitary insufficiency!