The Growth Without Growth Hormone Syndrome

The phenomenon of growth without GH has been recognized for over a quarter of a century in various physiologic or near-physiologic situations, including the fetal state and obesity, and in various obviously pathologic states, including postsurgical resection of suprasellar/hypothalamic tumors, most notably craniopharyngiomas, and in acromegaloidism. The mechanism or mechanisms responsible for this fascinating clinical syndrome are unknown. The available data implicate, at least in some of these subjects, a role for hypothalamic injury leading to obesity and insulin resistance which, in turn, leads to elevated circulating concentrations of insulin to which the body retains mitogenic sensitivity. Alternatively, in other subjects with this syndrome, evidence exists to support the presence of a circulating as yet incompletely characterized potent growth-promoting factor which appears in the serum. Further studies of this syndrome should help to enhance our knowledge of the mechanisms governing both normal and abnormal human growth.