aetiology and epidemiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Causes include:
- in 10 to 15% of cases there is a familial basis to this condition, inherited in an autosomal dominant or recessive fashion
- multiple pituitary hormone failure suggests secondary hypopituitarism produced by inflammatory, traumatic or neoplastic disorders in the suprasellar region. Causes therefore include:
- meningitis
- tuberculosis
- irradiation
- head injury
- pituitary adenoma
- pinealoma
- optic chiasmal glioma
- Laron type dwarfism
- Frolich's adiposogenital syndrome
Growth hormone deficiency affects about 1 in 3,500 children (1).
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