Objective: This study aimed to assess the auxological, clinical, and MRI features of pediatric patients with isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) by analyzing the demographic and clinical characteristics of the study cohort.
Methods: A cohort of 115 pediatric patients diagnosed with isolated GHD was included. The patients were evaluated at a tertiary center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Collected data included demographic information and auxological evaluations, such as height standard deviation (SD), height centile, weight SD, weight centile, and bone age SD. Neuroradiological assessments, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hypothalamic-pituitary region, were collected to identify any structural abnormalities contributing to GHD.
Results: A total of 67 (SD 58.3) were males. The mean age was 9.55 years (SD 3.45). The mean bone age was 7.37 years (SD 3.24), indicating delayed bone development. Height measurements reflected a significant growth impairment, with a mean height SD of -2.45 (SD 1.12). Out of the 115 pediatric patients in the study cohort, 84 (73%) underwent neuroradiological assessments using brain MRI. Among these, 12% were found to have MRI abnormalities. The prevalence of MRI abnormality in the subgroup with severe growth hormone deficiency was higher, reaching 21%. The peak growth hormone (GH) in the growth hormone stimulation test was 6.38 ng/mL (SD 3.24). There was a significant difference in the peak GH levels between the subgroup of patients with normal MRI findings (mean 6.02 ng/mL, SD 2.47) and those with abnormal MRI findings (mean 3.2 ng/mL, SD 2.8) (p=0.01).
Conclusion: Children with isolated GHD exhibited significant growth impairment and clinical characteristics consistent with the disorder. Neuroradiological abnormalities are common among patients with severe growth hormone deficiency; therefore, radiological assessment including MRI of the pituitary gland is recommended in patients with severe isolated growth hormone deficiency.
Keywords: auxological findings; children; clinical characteristics; growth hormone deficiency; mri; neuroradiological assessment.
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