Skip to main content
Log in

Growth retardation and reduced growth hormone secretion in a boy with achalasia

  • Endocrinology
  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A 15-year-old boy with achalasia of the oesophagus is described in whom growth retardation was the presenting and misleading symptom. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I secretion were decreased but GH therapy was unsuccessful. After pneumatic dilatation of the oesophageal sphincter catch up growth occurred.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GH :

growth hormone

IGF-I :

insulin like growth factor I

IGFBP-3 :

insulin like growth factor binding protein 3

References

  1. Cacciari E, Salardi S, Lazzari R, et al (1983) Short stature and celiac disease: a relationship to consider even in patients with no gastrointestinal tract symptoms. J Pediatr 103: 708–711

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Feldman M (1988) Esophageal achalasia syndromes. Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference. Am J Med Sci 295: 60–77

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hintz RL, Suskind R, Amatayakul K, et al (1978) Plasma somatomedin and growth hormone values in children with protein caloric malnutrition. J Pediatr 92: 153–156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kenney RD (1984) Achalasia in an adolescent with behavioral features compatible with anorexia nervosa. J Adoles Health Care 5: 283–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Maes M, Amand Y, Underwood LE, Maiter D, Ketelslegers JM (1988) Decreased serum insulin-like growth factor I response to growth hormone in hypophysectomized rats fed a low protein diet: evidence for a post receptor defect. Acta Endocrinol 117: 320–326

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Patrick A, Campbell IW Fraser MS, et al (1984) Achalasia of the oesophagus presenting as foreign body obstruction. Arch Dis Child 59: 576–578

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Prader A, Largo RH, Molinari L, et al (1989) Physical growth of Swiss children from birth to 20 year of age. Helv Paediatr Acta 43 [Suppl] 52: 1–125

    Google Scholar 

  8. Reynold JC, Parkman HP (1989) Achalasia. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 18: 223–255

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosenzweig S, Traube M (1989) The diagnosis and misdiagnosis of achalasia. J Clin Gastroenterol 11: 147–153

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Smith MS, Christie DL (1984) An adolescent with vomiting and weight loss. J Adoles Health Care 5: 279–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Soliman AT, Hassan HI, Aref MK, Hintz RL, Rosenfeld RG, et al (1986) Serum insulin-like growth factors I and II concentrations and growth hormone and insulin responses to arginine infusion in children with protein-energy malnutrition before and after nutritional rehabilitation. Pediatr Res 20: 1122–1130

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Thissen JP, Triest S, Underwood LE, Maes M, Ketelslegers JM (1990) Divergent responses of serum insulin-like growth factor I and liver growth hormone (GH) receptors to exogenous GH in protein-restricted rats. Endocrinology 126: 908–913

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Walker JM, Bond SA, Voss LD, et al (1990) Treatment of short normal children with growth hormone-a cautionary tale? Lance 336: 1331–1334

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schober, E., Frisch, H. Growth retardation and reduced growth hormone secretion in a boy with achalasia. Eur J Pediatr 154, 109–111 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01991911

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01991911

Key words

Navigation