Growth hormone and dysmorphic syndromes.

In order to study the pathogenesis of short stature in some of the best known and most frequent dysmorphic syndromes, we have reviewed the most significant studies conducted on somatrotropin secretion and on response to replacement treatment with human growth hormone in pediatric patients. In particular, the study examines the results presented in the literature, and in a few of our cases, those obtained with regard to Noonan, Silver-Russell and Prader-Willi syndrome patients, to achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia patients, and to Down syndrome patients. Finally, we shall present a review of a few, less frequent dysmorphic syndromes with short stature, in which a growth hormone deficiency has been diagnosed and replacement treatment attempted.