[Somatotropic function of the pituitary gland in persons with growth disorders]

The authors present the results of study of the somatotropic function of the hypophysis in 18 healthy children and in 70 patients suffering from various forms of growth retardation. The blood serum level of the STH of the hypophysis was studied by the authors by standard sets for radioimmunological determination on fasting stomach and in dynamics during the standard glucose-tolerance test. The data of basal, maximal and mean STH levels were taken into consideration. Investigations revealed a reduction of the somatotropic function of the hypophysis in the patients with hypophysial, cerebral and somatotropic nanism. With the first tow forms of growth retardation the disturbances were associated with the organic affections of the hypophysis or of the hypothalamus, and in the somatogenic one- they were functional. Somatotropic function was retained in spondylo-epiphysial dysplasia and in the patients with thyrogenic nanism given displacement therapy. In the patients with the Shereshevsky-Turner syndrome the STH secretion remained unchanged, but the reaction of the hypothalamo-hypophysial system to the functional distrubances was disturbed. An increase of the mean STH level followed complex therapy.