title: Reduced bone mineral content in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: Bone mineral content was measured in a follow-up study of adult patients with hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency. There were 95 patients (59 males, mean age 54.0 years, range 21-74 years; 36 females, mean age 53.5 years, range 31-73 years). Routine replacement therapy with cortisone acetate and L-thyroxine was given. All males that were gonadal deficient were on proper testosterone therapy, except in four patients who were treated separately. Bone mineral content (g/cm) was measured using dual-photon absorptiometry in the third lumbar vertebra. Bone mineral content in the patients was compared with a control population (N = 413, 25-74 years of age). Bone mineral content was significantly lower in males (N = 55, p < 0.05) compared with controls. In females, bone mineral content was significantly lower both among the subjects with untreated gonadal deficiency (p < 0.001) and among those with treated gonadal deficiency and normal premenopausal gonadal function (p < 0.005) compared with controls. To summarize, patients with hypopituitarism on routine replacement therapy but not growth hormone have a lower bone mineral content than the controls. The reduced bone mineral content might be a result of untreated growth hormone deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosén
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Granhed
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szucs
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density; D003348:Cortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine; D003348:Cortisone