title: Effects of short term growth hormone therapy in adult growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Growth hormone (GH) is the most common deficient hormone in patients with pituitary disorders. Growth hormone deficiency in adults is associated with altered body composition, poor quality of life, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There are no data available from India, on the use of GH replacement in adult growth hormone deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty six male subjects with growth hormone deficiency (peak GH response <5 microg/L after appropriate stimulation) due to pituitary disorders were recruited for the study in a tertiary care institute in north India. Anthropometric parameters, body composition, isometric hand grip strength, and biochemical parameters including fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile and IGF-1 were measured. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed by standardized and validated questionnaire. The subjects were administered recombinant human growth hormone or placebo at a dose of 4 microg/Kg/day at 2000 h subcutaneously. The subjects were assessed at baseline and on completion of 12 weeks of therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of subjects was 47.0 +/- 3.9 years. There was no significant improvement in body composition, muscle strength, QOL score and glucose homeostasis, but serum triglyceride level decreased significantly (0.04) after growth hormone treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short term use of GH replacement in subjects with adult growth hormone deficiency did not have any beneficial effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, PGIMER, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Pinaki
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dutta
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhansali
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Ajith Kumar
authors.forename: Rajni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Shallu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jaggi
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhadada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I