The auxological and clinical basis for the diagnosis will be shown. Basal prolactin levels were measured and a prolonged glucose tolerance test, an L-dopa test, a TRH test and an LH-RH test performed. Abnormalities were found in five of the six patients. These included high basal prolactin levels, a pre-diabetic blood sugar curve, inadequate suppression of growth hormone or a paradoxical rise in growth hormone in response to glucose, an excessive or continuing rise of TSH following TRH, an excessive response of prolactin to TRH, and, in one child, a pubertal response of LH and FSH to LH-RH. The endocrine abnormalities demonstrated, although not consistent, suggest possible hypothalamic dysfunction in cerebral gigantism, in which a variable aetiology is likely.
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