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Increased Bone Density Following Two Years Of Growth Hormone


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From http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1ff042.htm

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ALIGN="center"><B>ENDO: Increased Bone Density Following Two Years Of Growth Hormone Treatment In Men With Idiopathic Osteoporosis</B></P>

By Amy Lazarus Yaroch

Special to DG News

DENVER, CO -- June 24, 2001 -- Growth Hormone (GH) treatment might be a new possible alternative therapy for men with idiopathic osteoporosis.

Dr. Peter Gillberg with University Hospital, in Uppsala, Sweden reported findings yesterday (June 23) at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society (ENDO) in Denver, Colorado.

Although mostly affecting women, osteoporosis, a condition resulting in decreased mineralized bone mass, can also strike men. Idiopathic osteoporosis, which accounts for approximately 30 to 40 percent of osteoporosis found in men, is a condition of unknown cause. Patients usually present with fractures and lumbar spine pain.

The researchers evaluated 29 men, age 27-62 years with idiopathic osteoporosis who were assigned to either continuous (Group A) or intermittent (group B) treatment with rhGH (Genotropin?, Pharmacia) for two years, with a one year follow-up.

At baseline and every six months, subjects had their bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and body composition measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At baseline and after two years, an x-ray was taken of the lumbar spine, according to researchers.

After two years, for Group A, bone mineral density increased 4.1 percent in the lumbar spine. For Group B, there was an increase of 3.4 percent, which was not significant. After another year of follow-up, the increase in bone mineral density was 4.6 percent and 6.6 percent for Groups A and B, respectively, with both values significant.

"Growth hormone can be a possible treatment option for patients with osteoporosis," Dr. Gillberg told Doctor?s Guide. He added cautionary note, "Growth hormone is not slated for use for osteoporosis. We need larger studies to see if there is any effect of GH on fracture risk of the patients."

Dr. Gillberg concluded, "Previous studies that we have conducted have shown that GH has an effect on bone formation. What we need now is further studies on growth hormone."

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  • 2 weeks later...

doctors who treat hormonal imbalance are somewhat aware of this. and insurance companies, as might be expected, are balking at the idea as GH runs ? to ? a month for adequate treatment.

according to dr. leach who seems to know his stuff but doesn't handle patients terribly well, bone loss continues for the first six months of GH injections (it is only by injection right now), and takes a year to begin building back up.... supplements should continue until xrays of the bones show solid, dense bone. note though that insurance companies tend to base discontinuance on xrays of the bone which fills in most rapidly, not the last .... even then,

if you're not making it, GH should be continued. heart damage caused by deficiency of GH turns around in six months. hair returns. skin condition also improves.

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