Table of Contents
What is gigantism?
Disease at a Glance Summary Gigantism is abnormally large growth due to an excess of growth hormone (GH) during childhood, before the bone growth plates have closed (epiphyseal fusion). It causes excessive growth in height, muscles, and organs, making the child extremely large for his or her age.
What is the cause of giantism?
Gigantism. In humans, this condition is caused by over-production of growth hormone in childhood resulting in people 7 to 9 ft (2.1 to 2.7 m) in height. It is a rare disorder resulting from increased levels of growth hormone before the fusion of the growth plate which usually occurs at some point soon after puberty.
What is the age of onset for gigantism?
As a result of the excessive amounts of growth hormone, children achieve heights that are well above normal ranges. The specific age of onset for gigantism varies between patients and gender, but the common age that excessive growth symptoms start to appear has been found to be around 13 years.
Are gigantism and acromegaly the same thing?
There have been about 100 known cases of gigantism in the US to date. The main symptom of gigantism is accelerated growth, which means the child will be unusually tall for his age. protruding jaw. In conclusion, gigantism and acromegaly are one and the same, both forms being caused by an excess of insulin-like growth factor in the body.
What causes gigantism in children?
It is usually because of the excessive production of a growth hormone that exists during childhood. The hormone is present while the growth plates are open and it affects the endocrine system. Gigantism usually is evident at childhood during an early age.
What causes gigantism in osteoporosis?
Hormonal cause. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are two substances that have been identified as influencing growth plate formation and bone growth and, therefore, gigantism.
What is the difference between acromegaly and gigantism?
Gigantism refers to GH excess that occurs during childhood when open epiphyseal growth plates allow for excessive linear growth, whereas acromegaly indicates the same phenomenon occurring in adulthood.