Congenital hypopituitarism and microphthalmia. Report of two cases.

Two children are described who had microphthalmia (one with unilateral and one with bilateral) noted at birth, and whose early onset of poor linear growth and weight gain led to a diagnosis of hypopituitarism prior to two years of age. Both children had growth hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone deficiencies, and evidence of partial ACTH deficiency. Administration of growth hormone resulted not only in rapid linear growth but it also reversed the poor weight gain and head growth noted in these children. These cases suggest that hypopituitarism and microphthalmia may be associated with each other more frequently than has been recognized previously.