Abstract
Turbidity of fasting serum and a distinctive pattern of changing blood lipids was observed during the first week of hospitalization in 14 children aged 1.9-14.3 yrs with PSD. All demonstrated remarkable catch-up growth with changed environment. On day 1 (morning of admission) mean (X̄) fasting triglyceride (TG) was 69% and cholesterol (C) 156 mg%. Fasting sera in 11/12 were turbid without clearing after 48 hrs. During the first 4 days, serial observations in 10/11 children showed dramatic rise in TC (36-594%) with decrease to normal by day 6-8. Serum C gradually rose in 6/14 by day 6-9 (29-52%). During this time serum turbidity cleared. Paper lipoprotein electrophoresis of 10 hr fasting serum was normal except for a light chyle spectrum in 7/13 and an increased beta band in 1/13. An increase in prebeta fraction occurred on day 2-4 in 10/12. Recurrence of turbidity occurred after 15/21 parent visits, clearing again with parent-child separation. By contrast, 5 children with growth failure and protein-calorie malnutrition, 1.2-3.9 yrs, 24 children with hypopituitarism, 1.2-17.1 yrs (X̄ TC 66 mg%; x C 182 mg%) and 16 children with other endocrine disorders undergoing similar hospital evaluations (X̄ C 163 mg%) had clear fasting sera on day 1. No change in serum appearance, TG or C was seen in 8/8 of these followed serially during days 1-4. The presence of serum turbidity may provide a clue to diagnosis in psychologically induced growth retardation. The mechanism of this phenomenon is as yet unexplained.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hopwood, N., Becker, D., Hengstenberg, F. et al. LIPID CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHOSOCIAL DWARFISM (PSD). Pediatr Res 11, 516 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00875
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00875