Three cases of congenital growth hormone deficiency with micropenis and hypospadias: what does growth hormone have to do with it?

Horm Res. 1999;51(2):101-4. doi: 10.1159/000023324.

Abstract

This paper reports 3 cases of congenital GH deficiency with male pseudohermaphroditism. All 3 showed a normal male karyotype, hypospadias of different degrees, and, for 2 of them, micropenis. No müllerian structure was individualized since pelvic ultrasound and genitography were normal. Patient 1 was born with multiple anomalies and patient 3 showed partial agenesia of the corpus callosum. Only 1 patient showed complete anterior pituitary deficiency. Gonadotropin defects were not investigated. We postulate that GH might play a role in early testosterone stimulation, and thus in male sexual differentiation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Fetal Growth Retardation / etiology
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / pathology
  • Human Growth Hormone / deficiency*
  • Humans
  • Hypospadias / drug therapy
  • Hypospadias / etiology*
  • Hypospadias / surgery
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Small for Gestational Age
  • Male
  • Penile Diseases / congenital*
  • Penile Diseases / drug therapy
  • Penile Diseases / surgery
  • Penis / growth & development*
  • Penis / surgery
  • Pituitary Gland, Anterior / growth & development
  • Testosterone / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Testosterone