[Growth hormone in the elderly man].
Many symptoms being part of the growth hormone deficiency syndrome in adults like decrease in muscle mass and bone mineral content, increase in fat mass, and skin atrophy are observed also with ageing. Indeed, short term trials with growth hormone administration to persons over 60 years old revealed that many of these symptoms could be reversed by growth hormone. However, recent reports of an association of high insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-concentrations and increased risk of prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer as well as a possible decrease of insulin sensitivity prohibit currently the use of growth hormone in an attempt to reverse a normal ageing process. Prospective, randomised and placebo-controlled long-term trials are necessary to prove safety and efficacy of growth hormone therapy in the ageing population before it can be recommended. In addition, no data are available as to the right growth hormone dose and the correct monitoring. Expectations of the society and the search for the fountain of youth should not motivate physicians to leave the firm ground of evidence based medicine and prescribe experimental therapies to healthy older persons.
Riedl
M
M
Klinische Abteilung für Endokrinologie und Stoffwechsel, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin III, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Wien.
Kotzmann
H
H
Luger
A
A
D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I