The Kenny-Caffey syndrome: growth retardation and hypocalcemia in a young boy

A 2-year-old black boy with the Kenny-Caffey syndrome was first evaluated because of growth retardation and hypocalcemia. Hypothalamic-pituitary function was normal. Basal serum somatomedin C levels were normal for age, but did not increase during short-term administration of human growth hormone. Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels remained inappropriately low during spontaneous and induced hypocalcemia, indicating that hypocalcemia was the consequence of hypoparathyroidism. The manifestations of 15 patients with this syndrome are tabulated.