[Problems in children with growth hormone deficiency in Slovakia]

The authors give an account of 71 patients treated on account of complete growth hormone deficiency in Slovakia. Before the age of five the diagnosis was established in 24 children, after the age of 10 in 17 patients. Nine patients suffer from panhypopituitarism, while isolated deficiency of growth hormone was recorded in 34 patients. Perinatal pathology plays an important role in the aetiology. A tumour caused the disorder in five children. Treatment of the majority of patients was not systematic and was inadequate because of shortage of growth hormone. When regular substitution treatment was started before the age of 8 years, the therapeutic results were very satisfactory. The authors draw attention to the danger of further deterioration of care of children with growth hormone deficiency for economic reasons.