How To Treat Growth Hormone Deficiency

Treatment Of Growth Hormone Deficiency In Adults

• 2.1. Unless contraindicated, GH therapy is recommended for patients with GH deficiency. GH therapy should start from a low dose, considering the patientâs age, sex, and estrogen levels.

• 2.2. Clinical improvements, side effects, and targeting se-rum IGF-1 levels within the age-adjusted reference range should be considered when adjusting the GH dose.

Unless contraindicated, GH replacement therapy is recommended for patients with GH deficiency diagnosed through GH stimulation tests. Patients should be started on low doses, since side effects are dose-dependent . Common side effects include fluid retention, arthralgia, muscle pain, sensory disturbances, carpal tunnel syndrome, sleep apnea, sleep disorders, and dyspnea. Most of these side effects occur in around 20% of patients, in a dose-dependent manner. Side effects are more frequent in elderly, obese, and female patients, but subside after the dose is lowered . The GH doses for adults were initially extrapolated based on body weight from dose recommendations for children. However, shifting from weight-based to individualized dose recommendations reduces side effects by half .

Algorithm for growth hormone therapy in GH deficiency adults. IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1.

Natural Treatments Of Growth Hormone Deficiency

If you are looking for a natural treatment of growth hormone deficiency, then we have it sorted for you.

There are many natural remedies that you can try to boost up your GH levels.

#1. Losing Body Fat

• L-DOPA
• Glycine

These supplements might help boost your HGH levels without any major side effects that are associated with replacement therapy.

How Is Growth Hormone Deficiency Treated

Since the mid-1980s, synthetic growth hormones have been used with great success to treat children and adults. Before synthetic growth hormones, natural growth hormones from cadavers were used for treatment.

Growth hormone is given by injection, typically into the bodys fatty tissues, such as the back of the arms, thighs, or buttocks. Its most effective as a daily treatment.

Side effects are generally minor, but may include:

• redness at the injection site
• hip pain
• curving of the spine

In rare cases, long-term growth hormone injections may contribute to the development of diabetes, especially in people with a family history of that disease.

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How To Prevent Growth Hormone Deficiency

Protecting head injuries goes a long way in ensuring that the pituitary gland is not damaged. You can also take precautionary measures by ensuring you buckle up while traveling by car. Bikers are also advised to always wear their helmets. Any injury to the head could cause lasting damage, including growth hormone deficiency. Taking the right precautions can help prevent this from gaining a foothold in your life. However, genetic causes for growth hormone deficiency are difficult to prevent.

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How Is Gh Deficiency Treated In A Child

Your child’s;healthcare provider;will consider his or her age, overall health, and other factors when advising treatment. Your child may need to see a pediatric endocrinologist. This is a doctor with extra training in treating children with hormone problems. This specialist will also have the best equipment to accurately measure your child’s growth from month to month.

Treatment is done with daily injections of synthetic growth hormone. Results are often seen as soon as 3;to;4 months after treatment starts. The treatment lasts several years, usually until late puberty when growing is finished. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the chances that a child will have a normal or near-normal adult height that matches his or her family pattern.

Not all children respond well to growth hormone treatment. GH therapy does not make a person taller than his or her parents.

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Diagnosis And Treatment Of Growth Hormone Deficiency

People usually ask how to diagnose growth hormone deficiency in adults!

Well, the process is similar for both adults and kids.

Diagnosis of GH deficiency usually starts with a physical examination that shows your doctor if you are having slow growth.

You get tested for your height, weight, and body proportions.

Other than the physical examination, there are some other tests and exams which help to diagnose GH deficiency.

Growth Hormone Deficiency In Adults Life Expectancy

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine news and publications, growth hormone deficiency has no significant impact on the life expectancy of an individual. The publication goes on to reveal that people with GHD due to genetic mutations will live just as long as people who produce normal amounts of the hormone.

The only factors that shortens the life span of people with GHD are the secondary effects of GHD such as cardiovascular disease.

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Growth Hormone Deficiency Guidelines

The following guidelines are the recommendation when managing and/or treating growth hormone deficiency in adult patients:

• Patients who should be evaluated for acquired form of growth hormone deficiency are those who have undergone surgery or chemotherapy in the head and neck as well as those with structural hypothalamic/pituitary disease. Patients with an evident pituitary hormone deficiency are also included in this category.
• Idiopathic GHD is very rare in adults. As a result, stringent guidelines have been put in place before you conclude a diagnosis of this condition. This is because the diagnostic test results that reveal an idiopathic GHD are usually false positive results.
• The presence of deficiencies in three or more axes of the pituitary are strongly suggestive of a GHD. In this circumstance, testing is always optional.
• During treatment with GH, patients are supposed tobe monitored in 1 to 2 month intervals. During such monitoring, clinical assessments and evaluation of adverse effects are made to find out how the patient is responding to treatment.

In children:

These are not the only guidelines for growth hormone deficiency disease, but they are among the most common. They help ensure that GHD is adequately diagnosed and treated.

Growth Hormone Deficiency Medications And Treatment

Children and some adults with growth hormone deficiency will benefit from growth hormone therapy. The goals of treatment are to increase growth in children and restore energy, metabolism, and body composition. The doctor may prescribe growth hormone, also called somatropin . The drug is given as shots a few times a week that is injected underneath the fat of the patientâs skin.

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How Do You Treat Growth Hormone Deficiency In Adults

Adult-onset GHD is often treated with growth hormone replacement therapy. The growth hormone in use, called somatotropin, involves artificial preparation which can be administered by the patients themselves.

The site of injection is the fat tissue in the lower abdomen. The injection device is similar to those used by patients with diabetes and is virtually painless, but prick-free devices also exist for those with a fear of needles.

Follow-up treatment is often done in an outpatient clinic with the help of an endocrine nurse. Patients are monitored and constantly given blood tests, with the growth hormone dose adjusted accordingly as needed.

Growth hormone replacement therapy is generally safe unless the dosage given is too high. Common side effects include water retention and joint discomfort but are alleviated by decreasing the dosage.

More severe side effects can include headaches and blurred vision, which can be resolved by simply stopping treatment.

Treatment Of Ghd; Benefits Of Ghrt

There is a general consensus that many of the metabolic and psychological abnormalities associated with GHD can be reversed with GH replacement. Lower doses of GH may decrease the incidence of side effects from GHRT, while still achieving a clinical response to therapy . Treatment with GH results in profound changes in body composition, especially in reduced fat mass, and an increase in LBM. The decline in fat mass is most significant in visceral and trunk locations , suggesting that GHRT may reverse the central adiposity associated with GHD and potentially reduce the increased cardiovascular risk that this body composition carries . The increase in LBM is smaller than the reduction in fat mass, but appears to be more sustained .

An overall beneficial effect on serum lipid profile has been noted with GHRT in some studies, but data are inconsistent . When GHRT is added to lipid management therapy with HMG CoA reductase inhibitors , it may promote a synergistic effect . The reduction in atherosclerosis with use of GHRT has been assessed by several studies evaluating carotid IMT . In addition, GHRT has demonstrated improvement in pro-inflammatory and other cardiovascular risk markers, including C-reactive protein, apolipoprotein B, and homocysteine levels .

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Growth Hormone Deficiency Disease

Growth hormone deficiency disease refers to the classic clinical presentations that accompany lack of or insufficient production of growth hormone. It is often associated with inadequate production of other pituitary hormones. In such a situation where other pituitary hormones are inadequately produced, the condition is referred to as combined pituitary hormone deficiency.

However, when growth hormone deficiency is not accompanied by any other hormonal deficiency, the condition is called, isolated growth hormone deficiency.

Isolated growth hormone deficiency

Just as the name suggests, isolated growth hormone deficiency is a condition where there is severe shortage or absence of growth hormone, though, without any other hormonal problem. Like other cases of growth hormone deficiency, people with isolated growth hormone deficiency have an unusually short stature due to failure to grow at the expected rate.

For instance:

Complete absence of growth hormone is classified as Type 1A isolated growth hormone deficiency. In more ways than one, this is the most severe form of the deficiency disease out of all the four types. The classic presentation of this disease is very evident at birth because the affected babies are usually shorter than expected when they are born.

What is Partial growth hormone deficiency?

What is Idiopathic growth hormone deficiency?

What is Pediatric growth hormone deficiency?

Other Treatments For Growth Hormone Deficiency

You may need other treatments for growth hormone deficiency in addition to growth hormone therapy. Mental and emotional therapy is often an important part of the growth hormone treatment. A psychologist or a mental health counsellor can talk you through your feelings. He/she teaches you how to cope with growth hormone deficiency. Important parts of an overall growth hormone deficiency treatment plan also include getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and regularly exercising.

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Diagnosing Growth Hormone Deficiency

Because GHD is often mistaken for other pituitary conditions, its important to be evaluated by experts. At the OHSU Pituitary Center, our specialists have the detailed knowledge needed to give you the correct diagnosis.

Exam: We will start with a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms.

Other tests, called stimulation tests, help us measure GH levels. If your levels dont reach expected numbers during the test, it could indicate a GH deficiency.

Insulin tolerance test: We inject you with insulin to lower your blood sugar. Low blood sugar sends a message to the pituitary gland to release GH. We take blood samples over a couple of hours to check GH levels. This test produces reliable results, but because it relies on lowering blood sugar, it can result in more discomfort for patients than newer stimulation tests.

Glucagon stimulation test: We inject glucagon into an arm muscle to increase your bodys production of GH. We take blood samples a few times over about three hours to check levels.

Macimorelin stimulation test: In this test, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017, you take macimorelin in a drink to stimulate GH production. We check blood samples four times over 90 minutes.

Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatments

Replacing growth hormone to treat GHD involves:

Injection: You inject yourself every day with a small needle. Well help you become comfortable with this.

Side effects: When you first start the medication, you may have muscle or joint aches, and mild swelling from fluid retention. They usually improve after we adjust your dose to the right level for you.

Monitoring: We test your levels and adjust your dose as needed, to control side effects and improve your well-being. Well make sure you dont get too much GH, which can lead to muscle or joint pain, headaches and blurry vision.

Effects of treatment: The goal of GH replacement therapy is to improve your health and reverse GHD features, such as belly fat and low bone density. Many patients see significant benefits from GH replacement. They may gain improved bone density, greater ability to exercise and improved well-being.

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Benefits Of Growth Hormone Treatment

• 4.1. GH treatment improves body composition, exercise capacity, and bone mineral density in patients with GH deficiency.

GH deficiency can cause decreased bone mineral density, muscle strength, and exercise capacity, deterioration in memory, decreased physical activity and vitality, lethargy, difficulty in concentration, and sleep disorders . Patients also are exposed to a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to central obesity, dyslipidemia, or insulin resistance .

Several studies consistently reported that GH treatment had the significant effect on body composition including decrease in fat mass and increase in muscle mass . It was further reported that GH replacement led to a decrease preferentially in visceral fat and an increase in lean body mass , and improvements in muscle function and lipid metabolism can be expected as well. Studies in South Korea confirmed the tendency for GH treatment to achieve reductions in weight, body fat, and insulin resistance .

• 4.2. GH treatment lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with GH deficiency, but there is insufficient evidence regarding its effects on mortality reduction.

• 4.3. GH treatment improves quality of life in patients with GH deficiency.

Is It Safe To Use Human Growth Hormone To Treat Ghd

Yes, the growth hormone injections are safe for your kid. However, they have a few side effects. Fortunately, it is rare to experience severe side effects. Some of the common side effects are numbness, swelling, muscle, joint pains, and aches.

These side effects might be a sign that you are receiving more growth hormones than your body needs. If you are experiencing such symptoms, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will adjust the amount of HGH you are taking. Once the doctors change the dose to the right amount, the symptoms will disappear on their own.

Note that there are people who should never take growth hormones, such as those with cancer or tumors. Additionally, those with multiple injuries, the seriously ill, or with severe breathing issues should never have HGH injections.

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Where Can I Find More Information About Growth Hormone Deficiency

You can find more information about growth hormone deficiency at these resources:

• The Human Growth Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports people with growth disorders.
• The MAGIC Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports people with conditions and diseases that affect growth.
• The National Institutes of Health is the United States medical research organization. They keep up-to-date, accurate information about many health topics.

Signs And Symptoms Of Growth Hormone Deficiency

A noticeable slowing of growth is one of the most obvious signs of GH deficiency in children. A GH deficient child usually grows less than 2 inches per year. Children with GH deficiency are smaller and tend to look younger than their peers, but they usually have normal body proportions.

Adults who have GH deficiency may have a variety of different physical symptoms, such as thinning of the bones, decreased muscle strength, increased body fat, or high blood cholesterol levels. Adults may also have emotional symptoms such as feeling tired, anxious, irritable, pessimistic, or unmotivated.

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What Causes Growth Hormone Deficiency

GHD that isnt present at birth may be caused by a tumor in the brain. These tumors are normally located at the site of the pituitary gland or the nearby hypothalamus region of the brain.

In children and adults, serious head injuries, infections, and radiation treatments can also cause GHD. This is called acquired growth hormone deficiency .

Most cases of GHD are idiopathic, meaning that no cause has yet been found.

How Can I Help My Child Live With Gh Deficiency

Children who are shorter than their peers may have poor self-esteem or depression. Its important to talk about these problems with your child and your child’s healthcare provider. He or she can recommend counseling or support groups for you and your child.

Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about your child’s potential adult height. Work with your child’s healthcare providers to create an ongoing plan to manage your childs condition.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Growth Hormone Deficiency

The primary symptom of growth hormone deficiency is a noticeable slow growth , although the body has normal proportions. The child with growth hormone deficiency may also have:

• An immature face, meaning he or she looks much younger than his or her peers

• A chubby body build

• Impaired hair growth

• Delayed puberty

It is important to note that growth hormone deficiency does not affect the child’s intelligence, and each child experiences symptoms differently. The symptoms of growth hormone deficiency may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your child’s;doctor for a diagnosis.

Getting And Giving Gh Injections

Children ages 10 and up may be able to and often prefer to give themselves their injections since GH injections are quick and almost pain-free. A parent should supervise the injection to ensure that the child gives themselves the correct dosage each day. Younger children should be given the injection by their parents or doctors at a paediatric endocrinology hospital. GH treatment is more effective when taken at bedtime because the natural growth hormone is released mainly during sleep in children. Once you and your child get used to giving GH injections, it becomes just another daily habit.; Here are some tips that you should know when you start GH therapy:

Storage

GH must be refrigerated at 36 to 42° F. If you let it get too hot or too cold, its effectiveness will decrease. You may place it back into the refrigerator and continue to use it if left overnight.

Keep it in the cooler provided in the starter kit for up to 10 hours when travelling. Then put on ice after 10 hours. Make sure to not place the GH pens directly into the ice. Keep them separate by placing the pen in a Ziploc bag.

Time of Day

Try to give the GH injection consistently within an hour timeframe. For example, give it between 9 and 10 p.m. every night. Do not make up for injections that you mightve missed.

Injection Sites

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