Growth Hormone Deficiency
How is it treated?
The primary goal of treatment of GHD in children is to restore growth hormone to typical levels so the child can grow to a normal height. Goals for adults are to relieve symptoms such as fatigue and muscle weakness, and to reverse any metabolic abnormalities associated with the condition, such as increased insulin production and erratic body temperature.
The mainstay of treatment for both children and adults is growth hormone replacement therapy. Growth hormone must be supplemented or replaced by using synthetic (artificially made) growth hormone, which is made through recombinant DNA technology. Somatrem (Protopin) and somatropin (Genotropin, Norditropin, Nutropin) are recombinant growth hormone products that are the drugs of choice for treating GHD. A newer drug, sermorelin (Geref), is frequently used in children as well. It is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone product, also made through recombinant DNA technology that works by stimulating the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Sermorelin therefore is not beneficial for children with congenital GHD, who do not have functioning pituitary glands.
Natural growth hormone derived from human pituitary glands was at one time used for the treatment of GHD. However, severe and sometimes fatal adverse reactions were associated with this drug, so the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required its removal from the U.S. market.
Children with GHD are typically treated with supplemental synthetic growth hormone for a number of years until they either have reached an acceptable height for their age or have reached their maximum growth potential. Parents of children with GHD who are undergoing treatment should be patient. A noticeable increase in growth may take 3 to 4 months of treatment. Along with affecting height by promoting bone growth, growth hormone treatment affects muscles as well. Children and their parents also should see weight loss with treatment as a result of decreasing body fat and a trimmer overall look.
Adults with GHD, by contrast, are usually treated with synthetic growth hormone to ease the symptoms associated with the deficiency rather than to increase height. A decrease in body fat and an increase in lean muscle tissue, improved mood, and improved exercise performance are commonly achieved through treatment. Treatment in adults may also have the beneficial effects of lowering cholesterol levels and increasing bone density, decreasing the risks for high cholesterol and osteoporosis.
To learn more about the drugs used as growth hormone replacement therapy, click on the Drug Class links below.
Drug classes used to treat Growth Hormone Deficiency Recombinant Growth Hormone Products
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How is it treated?
