Abstract
We report the case of a hypopituitary patient treated with human pituitary-derived growth hormone with a neurological disorder initially thought to be Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD). Between 1978. and 1981. he received 150 injections of Kabl-Vitrum Creshormone. In 1985. at the age of 18 he began to have difficulty in speech, writing and balance and exhibited behaviour changes. CT scan of the brain revealed massive calcifications within cerebellar hemispheres. Other laboratory results including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, serum electrolytes and parathormone levels and EEG were normal. His father's CT scan of the brain showed a minor calcification of the caudate nucleus, without clinical symptomatology. Follow-up of the patient revealed slow but clear progression of speech, truncal and gait ataxia and coordination difficulties He became withdrawn, depressive and slightly agressiva. Repeated EEGs were normal and the pair of proteins characteristic for CJD were not detected in CSF. Most probably our patient has Fahr's disease (familial basal ganglia calcification) but for a definitive diagnosis histopathology of the brain would be needed.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dumié, M., Radica, A., Škarpa, D. et al. 102 PROGRESSIVE ENCEPHALOPATHY IN PATIENT TREATED WITH PITUITARY HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. Pediatr Res 24, 534 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00123
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00123