ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

Ze’ev Hochberg was fascinated by growth, a dominant topic during his long-standing career. He published 153 articles on growth according to PubMed, the first 1980 [1] and the last in April this year [2]. Synergy between thyroid hormones and growth hormone was recognized decades ago [3] but Ze’ev Hochberg added an important piece of knowledge on the impact of hypothyroidism on the growth plate as well as the effects of thyroid hormones, growth hormone and the combination of both on recovery of the growth plate chondrocytes. He has shown that thyroid hormones were central for the recovery of the epiphyseal growth plate cartilage of hypothyroid rats, while growth hormone alone had no effect. Growth hormone together with thyroid hormones were synergistic. The main effects of thyroid hormones were 1) increased proliferation in the growth plate cartilage, and 2) hypertrophy of mature chondrocytes, both crucial for normalization of growth plate width, morphology, and function.

With Ze’ev Hochberg we have not only lost a clinician with enormous experience and expertise, but a highly innovative teacher and researcher in pediatric endocrinology and dedicated member of our Society, the Yearbook being the ultimate proof of all his dedication for our field.

References: 1. Hochberg Z. Subclinical Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in gonadal dysgenesis. Isr J Med Sci. 1980 Dec;16(12):847–8. PMID: 6893832. 2. Hochberg Z, Albertsson-Wikland K, Privé F, German A, Holmgren A, Rubin L, Shmoish M. Energy trade-off and 4 extreme human body types. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Apr 13;108(5):e89–e97. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgac665. PMID: 36413496. 3. Evans HM, Simpson ME, Pencharz RI. Relation between the growth-promoting effects of the pituitary and the thyroid hormone. Endocrinology. 1939;25:125.