[Growth hormone deficiency in adulthood: how to diagnose and when to treat?].

Abstract

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is a well-established clinical entity with heterogeneous characteristics, in which the main causes are hypothalamus-pituitary tumors and/or their treatment. The diagnosis of ADGH should be considered in patients with a prior history of childhood-onset GH deficiency or a history of organic hypothalamus-pituitary disease. In these patients diagnosis is performed biochemically by provocative tests of GH secretion, once the measurement of the biological markers for GH action:IGF-l and IGFBP-3 levels, can be in the normal range in an important percentage of AGHD patients. The current treatment using an initial low dose of hrGH followed by individualised dose titration adjusted according to serum IGF-1 levels, leads to similar beneficial effects with less incidence of side effects, improved tolerance to treatment and a lower stable GH dose as compared to hrGH replacement therapy based on body weight or body surface area. As some patients might not profit from hrGH therapy, the potential beneficial effects of hrGH replacement therapy should be analyzed on individualized basis. Alternative available therapies with similar efficacy should be taken into consideration. Physical activity may improve body compostion, cardiovascular perfomance and well being in ADGH subjects not submitted to hrGH treatment. An important target of hrGH replacement therapy is its impact on quality of life, leading to social and professional improvement. Epidemiological evidence points to a decreasing life expectancy in ADGH patients but data regarding the impact of hrGH replacement on life expectancy are still lacking.

• Authors: Raquel S Jallad, Marcello D Bronstein
• Journal: Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia (Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol) Vol. 52 Issue 5 Pg. 861-71 (Jul 2008) ISSN: 1677-9487 [Electronic] Brazil
• Vernacular Title: Deficiência de GH na vida adulta: como diagnosticar e quando tratar?
• PMID: 18797594 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
• Human Growth Hormone
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Body Composition
• Body Weight
• Bone Density
• Growth Disorders (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Human Growth Hormone (deficiency, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (analysis)
• Quality of Life