Pseudohypopituitary dwarfism with normal plasma growth hormone and low serum sulfation factor

Abstract

A 7 5/12-year-old Persian Jewish child exhibiting many typical clinical features of dwarfism associated with isolated deficiency of growth hormone was studied. Basal plasma growth hormone values were within normal limits and rose during insulin-induced hypoglycemia to high levels. The serum sulfation factor level was low and did not rise with administration of human growth hormone. Studies performed under metabolic balance conditions showed some evidence of resistance to the metabolic actions of growth hormone as well. This patient manifested clinical signs of growth hormone deficiency which were due to defective generation of sulfation factor rather than impaired growth hormone production.