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The diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency in adults.

Author(s): Clemmons DR

Affiliation(s): Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7170, USA. endo@med.unc.edu

Publication date & source: 2010-08, Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes., 17(4):377-83.

Publication type: Evaluation Studies; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes the recent published information regarding efficacy and complications of growth hormone replacement therapy. Several recent reports have monitored patients for periods of up to 10 years. Additionally, a consensus conference has been held regarding needed improvements in diagnostic testing and the recommendations of consensus panels regarding diagnostic criteria and laboratory test utilization are summarized. RECENT FINDINGS: Long-term studies show growth hormone can be administered safely and that muscle strength and function as well as lipoprotein abnormalities and low-bone mineral density show sustained improvement over extended periods of time. The complications that occur are generally dose-dependent and once attenuated do not tend to recur. Long-term safety studies regarding improvement in cardiovascular mortality and/or worsening prognosis for patients who develop malignancies are available only in the form of observational studies and randomized controlled long-term trial information is not yet available. The studies reported provide a means for clinicians to ascertain the patients who are likely to derive the greatest benefit from growth hormone when the appropriate diagnostic testing and treatment paradigms are utilized. SUMMARY: The studies that are summarized provide useful information for assessing the response to treatment, selecting patients who are candidates for long-term replacement therapy and for selecting those in whom the need for therapy may need to be reassessed.

Page last updated: 2010-10-05

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