Abnormalities of Growth Hormone

• Excess secretion by Growth Hormone secreting tumor before adolescence, leads to Gigantism.
• After adolescence – Acromegaly.
• Deficiency in early childhood results in pituitary Dwarfism.
• Deficiency in adults causes –NOTHING.

Gigantism

• Gigantism is a Growth hormone abnormality caused by excessive secretion of Growth hormone before adolescence.
• Excessive activation of cells, or tumor in the Anterior Pituitary results in rapid growth in all tissues including bones.
• As a result the person becomes a giant; may grow up to 8 feet tall.
• There is hyperglycemia leading to Diabetes mellitus. 
• This is caused by secretion of excessive amount of Insulin to meet the requirement and ultimately the Beta cells of Pancreas burn out.
• Pan-hypopituitarism eventually develops as the tumour invades the surrounding tissue resulting in destruction of other pituitary cells.
• Death occurs if untreated.