title: A monocentric experience of growth hormone replacement therapy in adult patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the results of growth hormone (GH) therapy in adult GH-deficient patients treated in a tertiary referral center, with a focus on quality of life and adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of patients followed over a total period of 11 years. Quality of life (QOL) was assessed by the QOL-Assessment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults (QoL-AGHDA) score and adherence to treatment was measured by a specific questionnaire. Clinical, biological, body composition and bone mineralization parameters were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 81 patients were analyzed. After a median treatment duration of 7 years, 2/3 of patients reported improved QOL (mean decrease of AGHDA score of 3.0 points, P<0.001). A trend towards more frequent improvement was observed in middle-aged patients, women, childhood-onset GHD, and in patients with initially more impaired QOL. More than 60% of the patients reported continuing treatment without interruption. Seventy percent declared good adherence (≤2 missed injections/month). A majority reported enhanced well-being. Additionally, we observed a mean weight increase of 2 kg, while fat mass, waist/hip circumference ratio and lipids were unchanged. Bone mineral density was significantly increased at lumbar spine and femoral neck.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study confirmed a sustained improvement in quality of life and showed that majority of patients were still on GH treatment after a median duration of 7 years.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service endocrinologie, hôpitaux Drome-Nord, 607, avenue Geneviève-de-Gaulle-Anthonioz, BP 1002, 26102 Romans-sur-Isère cedex, France. Electronic address: l.abdi@hopitaux-drome-nord.fr.
authors.forename: Lyès
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahnoun-Fathallah
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morange
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albarel
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castinetti
authors.affiliation: Service de santé publique et d'information médicale, hôpital de la Timone, Aix-Marseille université, Inserm, UMR_S 912 (SESSTIM), IRD, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Roch
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giorgi
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille université, CNRS, CRN2M UMR 7286, 13344 Marseille cedex 15, France; Service d'endocrinologie, diabète et maladies métaboliques, centre de référence des maladies rares d'origine hypophysaire DEFHY, hôpital Timone, AP-HM, 13385 Marseille cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone
keywords: Adherence to treatment; Adhésion au traitement; Adult patients; Adultes; Déficit en hormone de croissance; Growth hormone deficiency; Growth hormone therapy; Quality of life; Qualité de vie; Traitement par hormone de croissance