[Endocrinologic disorders in deletion of chromosome 18]

Patients suffering from deletions of chromosome 18 (p-, q-) show regularly short stature. Endocrinological investigations were performed to prove if short stature is due to pituitary insufficiency. In three female patients with deletions of chromosome 18 and retarded bone age serum growth hormone was investigated after insulin induced hypoglycemia, after glucagon-propranolol and after stimulation with growth hormone releasing hormone. Thyroid function, gonadal function and adrenal function were investigated too. All three patients showed growth hormone deficiency. In one patient there were found in addition hypothyroidism and gonadotrophine deficiency as well. In conclusion growth failure in some patients with deletions of chromosome 18 seems to due to pituitary insufficiency. In these patients treatment with recombinant growth hormone may increase growth velocity.