[Long-term fate of pituitary dwarfs treated with growth hormone]. / Le devenir à long terme des nains hypophysaires traités par l'hormone de croissance.

A questionnaire having been mailed to 50 hypopituitary patients aged 18 to 36 years (m 21.7 +/- 3.4) previously treated with human growth hormone for at least 3 years, 44 answers have been received. The final height is 2.1 +/- 0.9 standard deviations below the average. However 57% of the patients consider it is sufficient. The smallness is felt as a handicap by 20% only of these adults, though 88% had suffered for it during their adolescence. The treatment is retrospectively considered as useful and acceptable by 68%, heavy but useful by 25%, heavy and useless by 7%, without correlation with the results. Only 41% are satisfied with their school achievements. However, more than two thirds of patients had severe school difficulties at the time of onset of the treatment. Actually 75% of the patients are professionally qualified, among whom 36% have achieved high school, and most have an educational level similar to that of their parents or even higher. But 41% only have an employment, 27% are still students and 32% are unemployed. The way of life of the young hypopituitary adults is severely affected: 6 only are married or living with a mate, 11 only write they have occasional sexual experiences, 16 remain completely alone. In contrast, leisure activities are good in more than 90%. A score taking all these data into consideration to evaluate their way of life shows, among the 43 complete answers to the questionnaire, 16% with excellent results, 49% with a rather good social status and 35% with poor final result.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adjustment and rehabilitation problems of children and adolescents with growth retardation. I. Familial dwarfism with high plasma immunoreactive human growth hormone.

Nine children and adolescents with the syndrome of familial dwarfism and high plasma immunoreactive human growth hormone were assessed by means of a battery of psychological tests, and they and their parents were interviewed with the aim of studying the problems of adjustment and rehabilitation in this group of patients. The group as a whole showed a lower-than-average intelligence quotient and a distinct deficiency in visuomotor functioning. Although this type of dwarf is well proportioned and without major malformations, his markedly small stature and limited physical endurance cause various problems, including those of mobility, clothing, and accommodation to public transportation and normal-sized furniture in school and at work. Psychological problems include intrafamily relationships and the attitudes encountered in school, in social situations and at places of employment. It is concluded that these patients need the specialized counseling of a centralized rehabilitation center which offers a combined program of medical care, psychological support and assistance with such problems as schooling, choice of occupation and the finding of suitable employment. It is suggested that the rehabilitation problems and needs of all dwarfs are similar, irrespective of the etiology of the dwarfism.