Rapid Growth in Height Produced by Chorionic Gonadotropin in a Dwarfed Infantile Identical Twin

Abstract

The subjects were a set of fairly alert, dwarfed (42-1/2" and 42" respectively), sexually infantile identical twins who were studied since March 1935, aged 71/2- yrs. The taller was kept as a control; the shorter brother was given desiccated thyroid for about 2 yrs. in view of a delayed osseous status. No appreciable accelerating effect was noted on linear growth nor on the gonads. Over a period of 41/2 yrs. each grew about 71/2" and maintained the original small difference in heights. The genitals showed no noticeable change. At 121/4 yrs. in Dec. 1939, the shorter one was given chorionic gonadotrophin (Pregnyl[long dash]Roche-Organon, Inc.). A marked gonadotrophic effect was noted and a marked linear growth was also produced so that after 1 yr. of treatment 4" in height was added, whereas the untreated brother grew 11/4" and is now the shorter of the two. Although an originally delayed osseous development was advanced during treatment, and some puberal changes were produced, there was no evidence of premature epi-physeal closure. These data corroborate previous work on growth and sex relationship in a large group of cases.