Growth hormone replacement throughout life: Insights into age-related responses to treatment

[~MaryO~]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...183201f3acf3bbe

 

Growth Hormone & IGF Research

Volume 17, Issue 5, October 2007, Pages 369-382

 

Full Text + Links, $30.00 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=A...69705028c1c5dc9

 

doi:10.1016/j.ghir.2007.04.010 How to Cite or Link Using DOI (Opens New Window)

Copyright ? 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

 

Review

 

Growth hormone replacement throughout life: Insights into age-related responses to treatment

 

Peter Claytona, Helena Gleesonb, John Monsonc, Vera Popovicd, Stephen M Shaletb and J. Sandahl Christiansene, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author

aEndocrine Science Research Group, Division of Human Development, The Medical School, University of Manchester, UK

bDepartment of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK

cCentre for Clinical Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, St. Bartholomew?s Hospital, Queen Mary?s School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, London, UK

dInstitute of Endocrinology, University Clinical Center, Belgrade, Serbia

eDepartment of Endocrinology, Aarhus University Hospital, Kommunehospitalet, DK 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

Received 13 December 2006; revised 19 April 2007; accepted 23 April 2007. Available online 7 June 2007.

 

 

Abstract

 

The adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) syndrome is a well-defined clinical entity. Although the symptoms of GHD are not age specific, their relative importance differs depending on the patient?s age, and the impact of GHD varies throughout adult life. Ceasing growth hormone (GH) therapy soon after final height in patients with severe GHD potentially limits somatic development by reducing accrual of bone and muscle mass. It is now recognized that the continuation of GH therapy in the transition years is required to achieve adult levels of somatic development. In middle age, the most worrying feature of GHD is the increase in cardiovascular risk, an important component of which is GHD-related dyslipidemia. One of the most profound effects of GH therapy in this age group is the durable reduction in cholesterol levels. Elderly GH-deficient patients experience the symptoms of GHD over and above the signs of normal aging. Perhaps most importantly, these patients have impaired quality of life, with fatigue as a major component. Evidence is growing for improved quality of life with GH therapy in the elderly. This review describes the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of GHD specific to the different age groups.

 

Keywords: Adult; Growth hormone deficiency; Transition; Middle age; Elderly; Growth; Cardiovascular; Quality of life

[~MaryO~]

I wonder if the real article mentions pituitary patients...