Growth Hormone Deficiency Causing Micropenis: Lessons Learned From a Well-Adjusted Adult.

This report of a 46,XY patient born with a micropenis consistent with etiology from isolated congenital growth hormone deficiency is used to (1) raise the question regarding what degree testicular testosterone exposure to the central nervous system during fetal life and early infancy has on the development of male gender identity, regardless of gender of rearing; (2) suggest the obligatory nature of timely full disclosure of medical history; (3) emphasize that virtually all 46,XY infants with functional testes and a micropenis should be initially boys except some with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome; and (4) highlight the sustaining value of a positive long-term relationship with a trusted physician (R.M.B.

History of growth hormone therapy.

The first human to receive GH therapy was in 1956; it was of bovine origin and was given for 3 wk for metabolic balance studies revealing no effects. By 1958, three separate laboratories utilizing different extraction methods retrieved hGH from human pituitaries, purified it and used for clinical investigation. By 1959 presumed GHD patients were being given native hGH collected and extracted by various methods.

Longitudinal assessment of hormonal and physical alterations during normal puberty in boys. IV: Predictions of adult height by the Bayley-Pinneau, Roche-Wainer-Thissen, and Tanner-Whitehouse methods compared.

To determine how accurately the Roche-Wainer-Thissen (RWT), Tanner-Whitehouse (TW2), and Bayley-Pinneau (BP) prediction models estimated adult height, serial height predictions were made for 23 healthy boys (mean initial age 10.4 ± 1.1 years) every 8 months from 8-15 years of age.