[Partial somatotropin deficiency in a case of chronic renal insufficiency with renal transplantation. Efficacy of treatment with human growth hormone].

The authors report a case of chronic renal failure with a -4 SD growth retardation. The patient underwent dialysis and then transplantation. Investigations to determine somatotropin deficiency showed dissociated results of 4 stimulation tests: 2 normal responses and 2 low responses. Treatment with human growth hormone (10 mg/kg/year) induced a dramatic acceleration of the growth velocity, which increased from 2 to 7 cm/year. After 18 months, the gain in height was 10 cm. Data submitted by several authors on Cushing's disease and the interrelations cortisone/somatotropin secretion suggest that continuous and/or alternate corticotherapy may be the cause of this partial somatotropin deficiency.