Growth hormone deficiency
Alternate Names : Panhypopituitarism, Dwarfism, Pituitary dwarfism, Recombinant human GH (rhGH), Acquired growth hormone deficiency, Congenital growth hormone deficiency
Treatment
Treatment involves growth hormone injections given at home. Patients may receive growth hormone several times a week or once a day. Serious side effects of growth hormone therapy are rare. The most common side effects are: - Fluid retention
- Muscle and joint aches
Prognosis (Expectations)
The earlier the condition is treated, the better the chance that a child will grow to be a near-normal adult height. Many children gain 4 or more inches over the first year and 3 or more inches during the next 2 years. The rate of growth improvement then slowly decreases.
Growth hormone replacement therapy does not work for all children.
Complications
If left untreated, growth hormone deficiency will lead to short stature and delayed puberty. Growth hormone deficiency may occur with deficiencies of other hormones, including the following: - Thyrotropins (control production of thyroid hormones)
- Vasopressin (controls water balance in the body)
- Gonadotropins (control production of male and female sex hormones)
- Adrenocorticotrophic hormone or ACTH (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones)
Calling Your Health Care Provider
Call your health care provider if your child seems abnormally short for his or her age.
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