Acquired growth hormone deficiency due to pituitary stalk transection after head trauma in childhood

Mild and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury and Repeated Stress Affect Corticosterone in the Rat

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors suffer from a range of morbidities, including post-traumatic endocrinopathies that can cause physical and mental changes in patients, greatly compromising quality of life. This study tested the hypothesis that mild and moderate diffuse TBI leads to chronic deficiencies in corticosterone (CORT) regulation following repeated exposure to restraint stress over time. Young adult male rats (n = 9–11/group) were subjected to mild or moderate TBI induced by midline fluid percussion injury (mFPI) or control sham surgery. At 6 and 24 h post-injury, both mild and moderate TBI resulted in elevated resting plasma CORT levels compared with uninjured shams. Independent of TBI severity, all rats had lower resting plasma CORT levels at 7, 14, 28, and 54 days post-injury compared with pre-surgery baseline CORT. Circulating levels of CORT were also evaluated under restraint stress and in response to dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid. Independent of TBI severity, restraint stress elevated CORT at 30, 60, and 90 min post-stressor initiation at all post-injury time-points. A blunted CORT response to restraint stress was observed with lower CORT levels after restraint at 28 and 54 days compared with 7 days post-injury (DPI), indicative of habituation to the stressor. A high dose of DEX lowered CORT levels at 90 min post-restraint stress initiation compared with low-dose DEX, independent of TBI severity. These results support TBI-induced CORT dysregulation at acute time-points, but additional studies that investigate the onset and progression of endocrinopathies, controlling for habituation to repeated restraint stress, are needed to inform the diagnosis and treatment of such morbidities in TBI survivors.

Trauma and thyroid-stimulating hormone abnormalities in pediatric patients

Background

There is limited literature on trauma and endocrine abnormalities in the pediatric trauma setting.

Aim

We studied demographic, medical history, injury experience, and mortality factors to determine their association with abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone in pediatric trauma patients.

Methods

The 414 pediatric trauma patients were from those seen at an emergency department. The primary outcome variable was abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone. Secondary outcome variables were abnormal high and abnormal low thyroid-stimulating hormone. Predictor variables were demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index), medical history (thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disease, psychiatric disease), injury experience (injury cause, injury severity score ≥ 15, moderate/severe traumatic brain injury, length of stay), and mortality (mortality, survival probability). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

There were 8.0% ( n = 33) with any abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone value. In the analysis for abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone, females (odds ratio:4.95, 95% confidence interval: 2.01, 12.21, p < 0.01) and traumatic brain injury (odds ratio: 8.11, 95% confidence interval: 2.51, 26.16, p < 0.001) were each significantly associated with increased odds. In the analysis for abnormal high thyroid-stimulating hormone (odds ratio: 3.75, 95% confidence interval: 1.37, 10.24, p < 0.05), traumatic brain injury (odds ratio: 11.59, 95% confidence interval: 3.45, 38.97, p < 0.001), and mortality (odds ratio: 35.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.40, 906.57, p < 0.05) were each significantly associated with increased odds. In the analysis for abnormal low thyroid-stimulating hormone, only females (odds ratio: 11.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.26, 97.60, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with increased odds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, females and traumatic brain injury have increased odds for abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone. Mortality has increased odds for abnormal high thyroid-stimulating hormone. We suggest that clinicians in the pediatric trauma setting carefully monitor females and traumatic brain injury patients with abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone.

[Legal redress in relation to physical injury due to post-traumatic anterior pituitary insufficiency]

L'insuffisance antéhypophysaire post-traumatique (IAHPT) est une pathologie exceptionnelle mais de réalité certaine résultant des lésions ischémiques lors des traumatismes crâniens (TC) sévères. L'objectif est de préciser à partir d'une étude de cas les critères d'imputabilité de l'IAHPT suite au (TC) ainsi que les spécificités relatifs à sa réparation juridique. C'est une étude médico-légale d'un cas d'IAHPT, diagnostiqué et suivi au service d'endocrinologie et de médecine légale du CHU de Sousse (Tunisie). Il s'agit d'une femme âgée de 45 ans, sans antécédents pathologiques (6 gestes, 4 parités et 2 avortements) ayant un cycle menstruel régulier, sans notion d'accouchement hémorragique, qui a été victime d'un accident de la voie publique (piétonne, heurtée puis renversée par une voiture) occasionnant un TC avec point d'impact occipital sans perte de connaissance initiale; ayant présenté trois ans après l'accident, une hypothyroïdie. L'exploration hormonale rapporte l'atteinte de tous les autres axes. L'exploration neuroradiologique retrouve une intégrité de l'hypophyse et de la tige. Le diagnostic définitif est l'IAHPT. L'expertise médicale (faite 4 ans après l'accident) a conclue à l'imputabilité de l'IAHPT à l'accident. Le taux d'incapacité partielle permanente IIP en droit commun a été évalué à 25%. L'IAHPT est un diagnostic d'élimination. L'évaluation du dommage corporel doit tenir compte des symptômes résiduels, contraintes thérapeutiques et répercussions sur l'activité quotidienne et professionnelle. L'évolution sous hormonothérapie de substitution est souvent favorable, cependant, elle peut être émaillée de complications, d'où l'obligation d'établir des réserves préservant ainsi le droit du patient à une nouvelle révision.

Prospective investigation of anterior pituitary function in the acute phase and 12 months after pediatric traumatic brain injury

PURPOSE

Although head trauma is common in childhood, there is no enough prospective study investigating both acute phase and 12 months after injury. Therefore, a prospective clinical trial was planned to evaluate the pituitary function in childhood in the acute and chronic phase after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

Forty-one children (27 boys and 14 girls, mean age 7 ± 4.3), who were admitted to neurosurgery intensive care unit due to head trauma, were included. Twenty-one (51.2 %) patients had mild, 10 (24.4 %) had moderate, and 10 (24.4 %) had severe TBI. Twenty-two of them were reevaluated 12 months after TBI. Basal pituitary hormone levels were measured during acute (first 24 h) and chronic phase of TBI. Additionally, in the chronic phase, GHRH-arginine test was used for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency.

RESULTS

In the acute phase, 10 patients (24.4 %) had ACTH deficiency, and the overall 44.3 % of patients had at least one pituitary hormone dysfunction. All the pituitary hormone deficiencies during the acute phase were recovered after 12 months. Two patients (9.1 %) had new-onset GH deficiency in the chronic phase, and in one of them, ACTH deficiency was also present.

CONCLUSIONS

Present prospective data clearly demonstrated that most of the hormonal changes in the early acute phase were transient, suggesting an adaptive response, and these changes did not predict the hormone deficiencies after 1 year. In the chronic phase, although GH deficiency was present, the frequency of TBI-induced hypopituitarism was clearly lower than the adult patients.

Somatotropin in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency and Turner syndrome in pediatric patients: a review

Growth hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin, is a peptide hormone that is synthesized and secreted by the somatotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland. The main action of GH is to stimulate linear growth in children; however, it also fosters a healthy body composition by increasing muscle and reducing fat mass, maintains normal blood glucose levels, and promotes a favorable lipid profile. This article provides an overview of the normal pathophysiology of GH production and action. We discuss the history of GH therapy and the development of the current formulation of recombinant human GH given as daily subcutaneous injections. This paper reviews two of the longest standing FDA-approved indications for GH treatment, GH deficiency and Turner syndrome. We will highlight the pathogenesis of these disorders, including presentations, presumed mechanism(s) for the associated short stature, and diagnostic criteria, with a review of stimulation test benefits and pitfalls. This review also includes current recommendations for GH therapy to help maximize final height in these children, as well as data demonstrating the efficacy and safety of GH treatment in these populations.

Hypogonadism after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of death and disability in young adults. Post-TBI neuroendocrine disorders have been increasingly acknowledged in recent years due to their potential contribution to morbidity and, probably, to mortality after trauma. Marked alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis during the post-TBI acute and chronic phases have been reported. Prospective and longitudinal studies have shown that some abnormalities are transitory. On the other hand, there is a high frequency (15% to 68%) of pituitary hormone deficiency among TBI survivors in a long term setting. Post-TBI hypogonadism is a common finding after cranial trauma, and it is predicted to develop in 16% of the survivors in the long term. Post-TBI hypogonadism has been associated with adverse results in the acute and chronic phases after injury. These data reinforce the need for identification of hormonal deficiencies and their proper treatment, in order to optimize patient recovery, improve their life quality, and avoid the negative consequences of non-treated hypogonadism in the long term.

Traumatic brain injury-mediated hypopituitarism. Report of four cases

Hypopituitarism has been increasingly recognised following traumatic brain injury. We report four children involved in motor vehicle accidents who had traumatic brain injury-mediated hypopituitarism. Various hormone defects are described. Growth hormone was the most commonly affected pituitary hormone. The time interval between the injury and diagnosis of pituitary hormone deficiency was between 2.5 weeks to 1.5 years. Hormone replacement therapy permitted normal completion of growth and development. Awareness among physicians treating children with traumatic brain injury of the risk of hypopituitarism is necessary to optimise the outcome.

The effects of head trauma on hypothalamic-pituitary function in children and adolescents

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Endocrine dysfunctions have been increasingly recognized following traumatic brain injury. Ever more numerous studies on acute head-injured adults have also raised concern about this risk in children and adolescents who have experienced head injury. The current review of the pediatric literature summarizes recent findings on acute-phase dysfunction and traumatic brain injury-associated hypopituitarism.

RECENT FINDINGS

The pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying acute-phase hyponatremic and hypernatremic disorders have been elucidated. Prospective studies on traumatic brain injury-associated hypopituitarism in pediatric patients are ongoing and preliminary data are available.

SUMMARY

Traumatic brain injury, a 'silent epidemic' that carries a considerable burden of disabilities, leads to a variety of endocrine dysfunctions in 28-69% of adult acute head-injured patients. In the acute posttraumatic phase, adrenal insufficiency and electrolyte disorders are critical conditions. Neurosurgical patients, particularly those prone to neurological damage, require prompt diagnosis. Hypopituitarism may be diagnosed months or years after a traumatic brain injury event. Since growth hormone and gonadotropin secretion are most frequently compromised, careful follow-up of growth and pubertal development is mandatory in children hospitalized for traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury induced hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction: a paediatric perspective

In survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), impairment in anterior pituitary hormone function may be an important cause of long-term morbidity. Histopathological evidence from post-mortem studies suggests that the hypothalamic-pituitary structures are vulnerable to damage following head injury. Pituitary dysfunction, present months or years after injury, is now well recognised in adults, however, little evidence is known about this potential complication in children and adolescents. This article reviews the available paediatric data, which shows that hypopituitarism may occur after both mild and severe TBI, with growth hormone and gonadotrophin deficiencies appearing to be most common abnormalities. Central precocious puberty has also been documented. There are, however, few published data within a population of children with TBI on the incidence or prevalence of hypopituitarism, nor on its natural history or response to hormone replacement, and prospective studies are needed. Given the critical role of anterior pituitary hormones in the regulation of growth, pubertal and neurocognitive development in childhood, early detection of hormone abnormalities following TBI is important. We propose that a multidisciplinary approach to follow-up and endocrine assessment is required for the long-term management and rehabilitation of children and adolescents who survive moderate to severe head injury.

Pregnancy complicated by multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies

We report a case of pituitary dwarfism and diabetes insipidus due to pituitary stalk transection in a pregnant Japanese woman, 138 cm in height, born by breech delivery with no evidence of ante- or intrapartum asphyxia. The patient had no central nervous disturbance, was diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism during childhood and was treated at another hospital with growth hormone supplement from 5 to 14 years of age. This patient was referred to our department at 17 weeks' gestation due to a change of residence. At 30 weeks' gestation, she was hospitalized for assessment of hydronephrosis and polyuria (15-20 L/day). Analysis of a 24-h urine sample showed creatinine clearance of 157 mL/min and urine osmolality of 38 mOsm/L. The patient's urine output decreased after receiving a test dose of 0.75 g of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP). Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed transection of the pituitary stalk. Subsequently, the patient's urine output was well controlled by a maintenance dose of 0.275 mL/day intranasal DDAVP. A cesarean section was performed at 37 weeks, as the patient height was 138 cm, and a pelvic X-ray showed cephalopelvic disproportion. She delivered a female baby weighing 2302 g, and both 1- and 5-min Apgar scores were 9. The patient was followed up after 4 months and showed no visual deterioration or polyuria while on DDAVP therapy, while the neonate grew favorably.

Individualized therapy for growth hormone deficiency

The use of human growth hormone to treat children with short stature resulting from growth hormone deficiency or insufficiency has now accrued over 40 years of clinical experience with a satisfactory safety and efficacy record. Growth hormone deficiency is the primary indication for growth hormone treatment in childhood. It is basically a clinical diagnosis, based upon auxologic features, and confirmed by biochemical testing. For assurance of compliance, dosing and, perhaps, safety considerations, a dosing algorithm based upon insulin-like growth factor-I response seems to be appropriate. Current data suggest that such algorithms reflect the true growth hormone needs of a patient, and allow optimization of growth hormone treatment. For patients who display a suboptimal growth response or in whom the insulin growth factor levels remain low with assurance of adherence to the injection schedule, it is reasonable to increase the growth hormone dose. The availability of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I treatment may provide an alternative for massively increasing the dose of growth hormone. Dose reductions should be considered for patients with serum insulin-like growth factor-I levels substantially above the normal range.

Hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency in adult subjects after traumatic brain injury: who and when to test

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was traditionally considered an infrequent cause of hypopituitarism. However recent reports strongly suggest that TBI-mediated pituitary hormones deficiency may well be more frequent than previously thought. As the prevalence of hypopituitarism is not dependent on the severity of the trauma and considering the high number of TBI events in all industrialized countries a screening procedure for detecting hormone deficiencies in all TBI patients is not possible. In the present work a suggestion for screening a subgroup of TBI patients is discussed in order to increase the effectiveness of the whole procedure.

Effects of vasoconstriction on the acute anterior pituitary hormonal response to head injury

Since cerebral vasoconstriction alone may impair the hypothalamic and pituitary circulation, we planned to investigate whether the hormonal response to the vasoconstriction that may be induced by the head injury is a significant component of the general acute hormonal response to head injury. Although diffuse adrenocorticotropic hormone immunohistochemical staining of the adenohypophysis of rabbits was observed in the head trauma administered group, only mild positive staining was present in the Endothelin-1 administered group. However, decreased prolactin staining was found in both of the groups. It is postulated that trauma induced vasoconstriction may not be an important manipulating factor in the corticotrophic hormone response to injury, while it may be responsible for the decreased prolactin response.

Bright pituitary stalk on MR T1-weighted image: damming up phenomenon of the neurosecretory granules

Characteristic findings of the pituitary stalk on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which suggest a damming-up phenomenon of neurosecretory granules, were reported. Neurosecretory granules containing vasopressin influence the signal intensity on MR T1-weighted image (T1WI). The normal posterior lobe of the pituitary gland appears as a bright signal on T1WI. The bright signal of the posterior lobe represents the normal content of neurosecretory granules and disappears in patients with central diabetes insipidus. The normal pituitary stalk appears as a low-intermediate intensity signal on sagittal and coronal T1WIs with 3 mm-slice thickness. The pituitary stalk appeared as a bright signal in 20 patients; 13 with pituitary adenoma, 4 with an intrasellar cystic lesion, one with cavernous sinus mass, and 2 with no abnormal MR findings. The pituitary stalk was not severed in any of the cases. The normal bright signal of the posterior lobe disappeared in 17 patients. No patients suffered from symptoms of central diabetes insipidus when the bright pituitary stalk appeared. It is suggested that the origin of the bright signal in the pituitary stalk is the damming up and accumulation of neurosecretory granules in the nerve fibers of the hypothalamohypophyseal tract obstructed by adenoma, postoperative scarring, cystic mass and so on. Probably, the damming-up phenomenon on MR imaging represents the functional integrity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, and should be distinguished from an ectopic posterior lobe formation which is caused by stalk transection.

Effects of trauma and pain on the acute anterior pituitary hormonal response

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of trauma and pain on the pituitary gland so as to determine whether pain is a significant component in the general acute hormonal trauma response. Adenohypophysis of rabbits that have undergone either diffuse traumatic brain injury or pain were investigated using immunohistochemistry. The ACTH staining pattern of the pain-administered rabbits was not as strong as the head-trauma-administered group, whereas PRL staining pattern of the former group was not so weak as the later group. As a conclusion, since adrenocorticotrophic hormone and prolactin staining patterns were different in the trauma administered and pain induced groups; it may be postulated that pain alone may not be an important factor in the hormonal response to trauma.

Assessment of endocrine functions in children following severe head trauma

The goal of the present study was to assess endocrine functions in children following severe head trauma. Subjects included 21 children between the ages of 3 years and 18 years 6 months, referred to the Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit at Sheba Medical Center, Israel, between 1984 and 1995. Each was examined 4 months to 11 years following the first admission, undergoing a complete physical examination, including neurologic assessment, biochemical and baseline endocrine profiles, and bone age determination. A GnRH stimulation test was performed in prepubescent children who had advanced bone age. Sixteen children had experienced the head trauma before, or at onset of puberty, according to their chronologic ages. Two children had completed puberty before the head trauma. A 12-year-old male who sustained head trauma at 10 years 6 months of age was found to have Tanner grade 3 pubertal stage and advanced bone age. In addition, 3 prepubescent children also had advanced bone age with no other signs of precocious puberty and a normal GnRH test. For all children studied, the biochemical and hormonal laboratory measurements were in the normal range. Endocrine abnormalities were not found in children examined 4 months or more following severe head trauma. We conclude that clinical monitoring of endocrine status after severe head trauma is sufficient; specific hormonal measurements are not required unless warranted by abnormal physical signs.

A taxonomy of neurobehavioral functions applied to neuropsychological assessment after head injury

Neuropsychological dysfunctions after traumatic brain injury are classified into a taxonomy to plan a comprehensive examination, and organize and report findings for diagnosis and treatment: consciousness, information processing, sensorimotor, neurophysiological, cerebral personality disorders, intelligence, memory, language, stress, psychodynamic, identity and weltanschauung, adaptation, complex adaptive functions, and development of children. Wide-range sampling enhances the detection of acute and late-developing dysfunctions, and diagnosis of complex syndromes. Historical, personality, and injury data are components of the assessment. Issues discussed include underestimation of brain injury, malingering, interaction of symptoms, symptom persistence, and noncerebral lesional contributors to impairment after mild head injury.

A new stress-related syndrome of growth failure and hyperphagia in children, associated with reversibility of growth-hormone insufficiency

BACKGROUND

Growth failure without organic aetiology but associated with behavioural disturbance and psychosocial stress has been termed psychosocial short stature. This condition is not a valid diagnostic entity, but encompasses failure to thrive, stunting secondary to chronic malnutrition, and idiopathic hypopituitarism. Some children show spontaneous catch-up growth when removed from the source of stress, without further treatment, but until now precise definition of this subgroup for the purpose of clinical identification has not been possible.

METHODS

Hospital-referred children with growth failure unrelated to organic pathology, who came from stressful homes, were compared with children of short-normal stature identified from an epidemiological survey (n = 31). Growth-hormone dynamics were studied in the hospital group by a combination of diurnal profiles and provocation tests. The tests were repeated after a hospital stay of 3 weeks away from familial stress. Standard behavioural measures were obtained from home and school.

FINDINGS

In a distinctive subgroup (n = 29), growth-hormone insufficiency was associated with characteristic behavioural features, especially hyperphagia and polydipsia, and a normal body-mass index. When the children were removed from their stressful home circumstances, growth-hormone insufficiency spontaneously resolved only in formerly hyperphagic subjects. 74% of the non-hyperphagic cases (n = 23) were anorexic, with a low body-mass index and normal growth-hormone responses to provocation tests.

INTERPRETATION

We present explicit behavioural and developmental criteria by which the novel syndrome of hyperphagic short stature may be recognised clinically. Such children have a capacity for spontaneous recovery of growth-hormone production on removal from or reduction of stress. Discriminant and predictive validity of the core symptoms are demonstrated. Preliminary familial studies indicate a possible genetic predisposition.

[Post-traumatic hypopituitarism after skull injury: apropos of 3 cases]

BACKGROUND

Hypopituitarism is a rare but well-known complication of cranial trauma. In the absence of overt diabetes insipidus, its recognition is difficult as the onset of clinical symptoms can be very progressive, up to several years.

CASE REPORTS

Three children, aged 8, 9 and 2 years, respectively, were admitted after a cranial trauma. Manifestations of diabetes insipidus occurred a few days later in two patients; one of them developed secondary growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism and hypogonadism, only evidenced at the age of 14 years. The third patient also developed manifestations of hypothalamic and/or pituitary hormone deficiencies without diabetes insipidus at the age of 12 years-6 months. MRI showed complete severance of the pituitary stalk in two patients and absence of posterior pituitary signal in one of the two patients with diabetes insipidus.

CONCLUSION

Growth disorders and/or hypogonadism may occur many years after a trauma that may have been forgetten. Search for such an etiology and dynamic MRI are necessary in identifying heterogenous hypophyseal lesions.

Posterior pituitary hematoma in a case of posttraumatic diabetes insipidus. Case report

A 28-year-old man presented with diabetes insipidus (DI) 10 days after basilar skull fracture without brain injury. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a hematoma in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland but no lesions in the hypothalamus or pituitary stalk. The patient's DI continued for 2 months at which time transsphenoidal surgery was performed to decompress the cystic hematoma with persistent mass effect. The DI attenuated shortly after the surgery and the patient became completely free from DI 5 months later. Although hemorrhage into the posterior lobe is one of the frequent pathological changes in fatal head-injury victims and secondary DI in these cases has usually been thought to be acute and transient, the true incidence and natural course of the posterior pituitary hemorrhage and subsequent DI in nonfatal head-injury patients are totally unknown. In this article, the authors present the first demonstration on MR imaging of a posterior pituitary hematoma in a patient with head injury. The authors propose that serial MR imaging is an important diagnostic tool in patients with posttraumatic DI because some of them may harbor pituitary hematoma and because decompression surgery may prevent transition to permanent DI, especially in cases when the mass effect is persistent due to a cystic change in the hematoma.

Reversibility of physiological growth hormone secretion in children with psychosocial dwarfism

OBJECTIVE

Reversibility of GH insufficiency with a change of environment is characteristic of psychosocial dwarfism, and excludes an organic endocrinopathy. However, the change in GH pulsatility has not previously been described. We therefore wished to study spontaneous GH secretion before and after change to a more favourable environment in 11 children with psychosocial deprivation and short stature in order to evaluate if separation from the families can modify their patterns of GH secretion.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN

We describe 11 prepubertal children (6 M and 5 F; 2.2-13.5 years of age) who had growth failure and psychosocial deprivation. They were diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team as having environmental growth failure after admission to hospital for 3 weeks. Six of them were discovered to have been sexually abused. During the uninterrupted hospital admission parental access was restricted. Three sets of 18-hour GH profiles were performed on each child, except one child who had only two, during the 3-week admission.

MEASUREMENTS

Pulse analysis of GH profiles was by Fourier transformation.

RESULTS

On the first day of admission spontaneous GH secretion demonstrated a spectrum of abnormalities in the pattern of basal values, pulse frequency and pulse amplitude. Such GH insufficiency showed reversibility during the 3 weeks in hospital. Indeed, there was a significant increase in GH secretion which was amplitude modulated without any significant modification in pulse frequency.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that there is abnormal physiological GH secretion in children with psychosocial deprivation, which is associated with growth failure. Despite a pathological situation, each child retained his own characteristic pattern of GH pulsatility. The pattern of reversibility of abnormal GH pulsatility provides information for the mechanism of the control of GH secretion.