Adiposogenital dystrophy

Adiposogenital dystrophy is a condition which may be caused by secondary hypogonadism originating from decreased levels in GnRH. Low levels of GnRH has been associated with defects of the feeding centers of the hypothalamus, leading to an increase consumption of food and thus caloric intake.

Presentation
It is characterized by:
 * Feminine obesity
 * Growth retardation and retarded sexual development, atrophy or hypoplasia of the gonads, and altered secondary sex characteristics,
 * headaches
 * Problems with vision
 * polyuria, polydipsia.

It is usually associated with tumours of the hypothalamus, causing increased appetite and depressed secretion of gonadotropin. It seems to affect males mostly.

Many overweight children may appear to have the disorder because of the concurrence of obesity and retarded sexual development; these children have no endocrine disturbances, however, and they mature normally after delayed puberty.

Synonyms
It has several other names:


 * Babinski-Fröhlich syndrome (named after Joseph Babinski and Alfred Fröhlich, but probably first described by Morgagni). (It was given its name by Harvey Cushing.)
 * Froelich's syndrome
 * Frölich's Syndrome
 * Hypothalamic Infantilism-Obesity
 * Launois-Cleret Syndrome
 * Sexual Infantilism