Dwarfism, Gigantism, and

Acromegaly
Yanti


Dwarfism
AKA: Growth
Hormone Deficiency
and Hyposecretion of
the GH
A person of short
stature
Disproportionate body
parts
Pituitary Dwarfism
1 in every 3800 births
Shortest Man to ever Live: Gul
Mohammed: 22.5 inches tall, lived to age
29
Dwarfism cont.
Little Peoples of
America (LPA)
Caused by deficiency of
Pituitary Gland
Limited production of GH,
called somatotrophin
Growth failure, distorted
facial appearance,
delayed bone age and
many organ problems
Shortest Woman to ever Live: Pauline
Musters: 23 inches tall, lived to age 19
Treatments for Dwarfism
Daily injections of
Human Growth
Hormone (HGH)
Since 1985, new types
of HGH have been
developed from a
genetically-engineered
bacteria
Ex: rhGH
$10,000-40,000 a year
depending on severity
Gigantism
"Pituitary gigantism"
and Hypersecretion of
the GH
Bone growth in an
excess amount
Can result in
hoarseness, sleep
apnea, joint pain,
cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, insulin
resistance, visual
impairment and severe
headaches (MedNet, 1)
Tallest Man to ever Live: Robert Wadlow:
811.1, lived to age 22
Gigantism cont.
Gigantism, when
purely inherited, is
characterized by the
top 1% of the
population
Treatment is limited to
surgery and certain
growth stunting
medicines
Tallest Woman to ever Live: Zeng Jinlian:
81.75, lived to age 17
Acromegaly
Syndrome where the
pituitary gland
produces excess
HGH after epiphyseal
plate closure
Affects adults in mid-
life
HGH abuse is linked
to several forms of
acromegaly
Abnormal growth of mandible
Acromegaly cont.
Symptoms: severe
disfigurement, soft tissue
swelling of internal
organs (heart, kidneys,
and vocal chords) and of
hands, feet, nose, lips,
ears, chin, and skin and
premature death
(eMedicineHealth, 2)
Treatments: surgery,
drug: Bromocriptine
(reduces GH secretion),
and drug: octreotide
(stops GH production)
Pictures