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HGH Deficiency In Adults
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Human Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
The Human Growth Hormone is the master hormone of the body and plays a crucial role in growth and development during the childhood and adolescent phase. Likewise, it is particularly important in sustaining normal metabolic activities and optimum health in adults. A deficiency of this hormone in adults, results in significant changes in the body composition and functioning.
Causes for Growth Hormone Deficiency in adults
A deficiency of the human growth hormone in adults may be due to pituitary adenoma, radiation to the skull, and occasionally due to idiopathic reasons. GHD is classified based on the source of the deficiency:
1. Pituitary (the gland is not able to synthesize and release the hormone)
2. Hypothalamic (if GHRH is not released adequately)
3. Functional (failure of other metabolic activities influencing the pituitary)
4. Idiopathic (unknown cause)
The other causes of deficiency include: injury, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis (inflammation in various organs of the body), lymphocytic hypophysitis (low production of hormones by pituitary gland), histiocytosis X (a cancer like condition), and hemochromatosis (increased quantity of iron accumulated in the body).
Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
The commonest presenting symptoms for GHD in adults are: truncal obesity, decrease in muscle weight, increase in accumulation of visceral fat, fatigue and reduced energy levels, diminished tolerance towards exercise, decreased stamina and strength, mental instability, feeling of loneliness, high insulin sensitivity, decreased bone density and sleeplessness. Rarely, some people show no symptoms of deficiency at all.
Increase in visceral fat deposition is dangerous, since it could lead to a host of lifestyle disorders - atherosclerosis, raised blood pressure and cardio-vascular diseases. The changes in blood lipids occur due to a change in the cholesterol deposition, where an increase in LDL cholesterol (bad) and decrease in HDL cholesterol (good) takes place.
Psychological changes include: depression and decreased sexual desire.
Diagnosing GHD in Adults
The patient’s guide to GH deficiency in adults by the Hormone Foundation reveals that, diagnosing this hormone deficiency in adults is not an easy task.
It needs certain specific tests and investigations to determine the absence of the hormone and if the deficiency is severe. The researchers have learnt that insulin tolerance test and GHRH Arginine test are most specific for determining a deficiency.
An MRI scan can reveal the presence of tumor in the brain or pituitary gland.
A pulmonary activity test may show lung muscle strength.
A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry shows osteoporosis and any bone related problems.
According to the human growth foundation, about 50,000 adults in United States of America are deficient in this hormone. Every year an increase of this number with the addition of around 6000 cases is reported.
Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
Treatment of GHD in adults is through human growth hormone replacement. It promises increase in energy levels, boosted immunity, enhancement in lean muscle mass, decrease in fats, healthy and strong bones, improvement in heart function, mental well being and general health.
The Human Growth Hormone is the master hormone of the body and plays a crucial role in growth and development during the childhood and adolescent phase. Likewise, it is particularly important in sustaining normal metabolic activities and optimum health in adults. A deficiency of this hormone in adults, results in significant changes in the body composition and functioning.
Causes for Growth Hormone Deficiency in adults
A deficiency of the human growth hormone in adults may be due to pituitary adenoma, radiation to the skull, and occasionally due to idiopathic reasons. GHD is classified based on the source of the deficiency:
1. Pituitary (the gland is not able to synthesize and release the hormone)
2. Hypothalamic (if GHRH is not released adequately)
3. Functional (failure of other metabolic activities influencing the pituitary)
4. Idiopathic (unknown cause)
The other causes of deficiency include: injury, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis (inflammation in various organs of the body), lymphocytic hypophysitis (low production of hormones by pituitary gland), histiocytosis X (a cancer like condition), and hemochromatosis (increased quantity of iron accumulated in the body).
Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
The commonest presenting symptoms for GHD in adults are: truncal obesity, decrease in muscle weight, increase in accumulation of visceral fat, fatigue and reduced energy levels, diminished tolerance towards exercise, decreased stamina and strength, mental instability, feeling of loneliness, high insulin sensitivity, decreased bone density and sleeplessness. Rarely, some people show no symptoms of deficiency at all.
Increase in visceral fat deposition is dangerous, since it could lead to a host of lifestyle disorders - atherosclerosis, raised blood pressure and cardio-vascular diseases. The changes in blood lipids occur due to a change in the cholesterol deposition, where an increase in LDL cholesterol (bad) and decrease in HDL cholesterol (good) takes place.
Psychological changes include: depression and decreased sexual desire.
Diagnosing GHD in Adults
The patient’s guide to GH deficiency in adults by the Hormone Foundation reveals that, diagnosing this hormone deficiency in adults is not an easy task.
It needs certain specific tests and investigations to determine the absence of the hormone and if the deficiency is severe. The researchers have learnt that insulin tolerance test and GHRH Arginine test are most specific for determining a deficiency.
An MRI scan can reveal the presence of tumor in the brain or pituitary gland.
A pulmonary activity test may show lung muscle strength.
A dual energy X-ray absorptiometry shows osteoporosis and any bone related problems.
According to the human growth foundation, about 50,000 adults in United States of America are deficient in this hormone. Every year an increase of this number with the addition of around 6000 cases is reported.
Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults
Treatment of GHD in adults is through human growth hormone replacement. It promises increase in energy levels, boosted immunity, enhancement in lean muscle mass, decrease in fats, healthy and strong bones, improvement in heart function, mental well being and general health.