Dwarfism, or scientifically, pituitary nanism, is a pathology in which there is a delay in physical development and growth, which is caused by insufficient synthesis and secretion of growth hormone (it is also called growth hormone).
This pathology is extremely rare, in about 2 out of 10,000 people. Pituitary dwarfism is detected in two more often in boys than in girls. Height in men is considered dwarf, if it is below 130 cm, in women it is below 120 cm.
The most common causes are the following:
• birth defects (in the prenatal period, the anterior pituitary gland is formed incorrectly),
• head injuries (generic ones also apply),
• tumor of the pituitary gland or surrounding structures,
• hereditary predisposition,
• syphilis, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis,
• also underwent chemo- or radiation therapy.
However, in more than half the cases, the causes of dwarfism remain undetermined.
How does pituitary dwarfism develop?
The weight and height of children with insufficient secretion of growth hormone at birth do not differ at all from the corresponding values of healthy children. Most often, the first symptoms appear in children only at the age of 2-3 years: such children begin to not keep up with the normal growth of their peers. The growth rate sharply decreases, which does not exceed 3-4 cm / year (at a rate of about 8 cm / year). Despite growth retardation, normal proportions in the body of the child remain.
In addition, pituitary insufficiency is also manifested by the following symptoms:
• underdevelopment of the reproductive system,
• poorly developed muscle system,
• arterial hypotension,
• decrease in the rate of ossification of the skeleton, development and change of teeth are disrupted,
• in the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland or surrounding brain regions, in addition to the listed symptoms, visual impairment also develops.
As a rule, mental development does not suffer from this disease, patients usually have a good memory.
.To confirm the diagnosis of pituitary dwarfism, it is necessary:
• Take tests for growth hormone. In addition, tests may be needed to determine other hormones. Maybe hormonal tests are needed: first, the initial level of hormones in the blood is determined, after which the patient takes a drug that affects the regulation of this hormone, after a certain time the analysis is repeated.
• X-ray the area of the Turkish saddle and skull to determine the size of the pituitary gland. Also, for clarification, computed or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is carried out, being painless procedures, they allow you to see in detail the area of the pituitary gland and the surrounding brain tissue. If visual impairment is noted , then an oculist consultation is also necessary.
Pituitary dwarfism is treated by an endocrinologist. The main method of restoring the level of growth hormone in the body is replacement therapy: the constant use of artificial growth hormone. To facilitate the calculation of the dosage and the introduction of growth hormone, special injection pen syringes have now been developed.
With adequate therapy, an increase in the growth rate to normal values (8-12 cm / year) occurs, before treatment, as a rule, only 3-4 cm / year are observed. In the process 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 that caused it. Most often, patients with adequate treatment achieve normal growth and adapt to environmental conditions.
Consult a specialist at the first sign of pituitary insufficiency!