Growth Hormone Treatment in Adults

摘要

The development of recombinant DNA technology has expanded the amount of humangrowth hormone (GH) available for clinical use. GH treatment regimens in GH deficient children have been improved, cq dosages have been increased to maximize growth and treatment is now without the risk of transferral of viral infections. For the use of GH in adults questions have arisen like: in which clinical conditions, at what age and in which dose GH administration can be of possible benefit, and what are the possible (dose-related) side effects. The useful indications of GH treatment in adults can be divided in (a) GH treatment, as an adjunct to the normal (nutritional) care of catabolic patients who, when healthy, secrete(d) normal amounts of GH and in (b) GH replacement, in adult patients who secrete no or a lowered amount of GH. However, possible adverse effects of GH on sodium and fluid homeostasis, carbohydrate metabolism as well as possible mitogenic effects raise questions concerning the safest (lowest) effective GH dose.