Epidemiology
Congenital growth hormone deficiency (GHD)
Congenital GHD includes a group of different aetiological disorders. The incidence is 1 in 3500 to 10,000 live births. Combined pituitary hormone deficiencies (CPHD) includes the deficiency of more than one pituitary hormone and has a prevalence of 45 cases per 1 million live births and an annual incidence of about 4 cases per 100,000 live births.[1] Most patients with hypopituitarism have idiopathic isolated GHD. Familial hypopituitarism may represent 5% to 30% of cases.
There are no known racial or geographical differences in the prevalence of congenital GHD. There is a male preponderance in patients with idiopathic congenital hypopituitarism, although the prevalence is more or less equal in patients with midline brain defects.[2]
Acquired GHD
GHD is the most common pituitary hormone deficiency seen in a variety of acquired disorders of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, particularly in suprasellar lesions and after radiotherapy for brain tumours. This is particularly important as brain tumours are the most common solid tumour in children (25% of cancers), with 10% involving the intrasellar or suprasellar compartment.[3] See our topics Overview of brain tumours and Craniopharyngioma.
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