Micropenis secondary to growth hormone deficiency: does treatment with growth hormone alone result in adequate penile growth?

PURPOSE

Congenital growth hormone deficiency is associated with aberrant androgen physiology and micropenis. We investigated whether treatment with growth hormone alone is adequate to restore normal phallic growth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In all patients the diagnosis was isolated growth hormone deficiency and micropenis, and growth hormone was the only therapy. Stretched penile length, and somatic height and weight measurements were available from diagnosis through puberty for all patients.

RESULTS

Eight patients diagnosed with isolated congenital growth hormone deficiency and micropenis were treated and evaluated. Mean z-score (number of standard deviations below mean stretched penile length) at diagnosis was -4.25 (range 3.1 to -6.6) with -2.5 representing micropenis. In adulthood mean final stretched penile length z-score was -1.73 (range -0.91 to -2.66). Seven of the 8 patients (87.5%) had stretched penile length within normal range.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that growth hormone therapy alone can result in normal phallic size in patients with micropenis secondary to isolated congenital growth hormone deficiency.