MRI findings and genotype analysis in patients with childhood onset growth hormone deficiency : Correlation with severity of hypopituitarism

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between pituitary size, PIT1 and PROP1 genotype, and the severity of childhood onset growth hormone deficiency (coGHD). Patients: Forty-four patients with coGHD (34 M; 9.7 ± 4.1 years): severe isolated (SI) GHD (n = 14); partial isolated (PI) GHD (n = 13); multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies (MPHD) (n=17). Results: Pituitary abnormalities were found in 7/14 patients with SIGHD (50%), 16/17 patients with MPHD (94.1%), and no patient with PIGHD. Mean pituitary height (PHT SDS) was significantly lower in MPHD than in SIGHD and PIGHD. Pituitary height SDS and pituitary volume (PV) SDS correlated with IGF-I SDS and stimulated GH peaks in the SIGHD and MPHD groups. No PIT1 mutation was identified. The PROP1 AG deletion (301-302) was present in five related patients with MPHD and more severe phenotype than the other patients with MPHD. Conclusions: Pituitary abnormalities corresponded to the severity of coGHD. Genetic alterations were identified in five related patients with MPHD.