Psychosocial Dwarfism: A Case Report

Abstract

A 4.5-yr-old boy with Down syndrome showed stunted growth for 2 yr. The patient was endocrinologically evaluated as having complete growth hormone deficiency with low serum level of IGF-I, 8.2 ng/ml, and no response of growth hormone secretion to an arginine provocation test. He was diagnosed with psychosocial dwarfism induced by his mother. Without any specific treatment, separation of the patient from his mother normalized his growth and IGF-I, 51 ng/ml. Psychosocial dwarfism should be considered as a cause of growth retardation with pituitary malfunction.