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Causes
Symptoms
Exams and Tests
Diagnosis
Treatment
Managing Growth Hormone Deficiency
Self-Care for Growth Hormone Deficiency Patients
Caring for those with Growth Hormone Deficiency
Causes of Growth Hormone Deficiency
An abnormally short height in childhood may occur if the pituitary gland does not produce enough growth hormone . It can be caused by a variety of genetic mutations (such as Pit-1 gene, Prop-1 gene, growth hormone receptor gene, growth hormone gene), absence of the pituitary gland, or severe brain injury, but in most cases no underlying cause of the deficiency is found.
Growth hormone deficiency may be associated 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)
- ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone (controls the adrenal gland and its production of cortisol, DHEA, and other hormones)
Source: National Institutes of Health
Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency
Symptoms of growth hormone deficiency include: slowed or absent increase in height, slow growth before age 5, short stature (below 5th percentile on a standardized growth chart), absent or delayed sexual development in adolescent, headaches, excessive thirst with excessive urination, and increased urine volume.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Exams and Tests For Growth Hormone Deficiency
Testing for growth hormone deficiency includes a full physical exam, x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and blood tests to measure levels of growth hormone.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Growth Hormone Deficiency Diagnosis
A physical examination including weight, height, and body proportions will show signs of slowed growth rate and deviation from normal growth curves. In addition, blood tests and x-rays help determine the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
Growth Hormone Deficiency Treatment
Synthetic growth hormone can be used for children with growth hormone deficiency. This treatment requires the assistance of a pediatric endocrinologist. Treatment with synthetic (recombinant) human growth hormone is generally considered to be safe, with rare side effects.
If the deficiency is an isolated growth hormone deficiency, synthetic growth hormone is given alone. If the deficiency is not isolated, other hormone replacement preparations will be required as well.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Managing Growth Hormone Deficiency
Some alternative or complementary approaches may help the patient cope or reduce some of the stress associated with living with a chronic illness. As with any therapy, patients should discuss the benefits and drawbacks with their doctors before beginning an alternative or new type of therapy. If the doctor feels the approach has value and will not be harmful, it can be incorporated into a patient's treatment plan. However, it is important not to neglect regular healthcare.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Self-Care For Growth Hormone Deficiency Patients
People affected by growth hormone deficiency should develop skills to maintain and improve their own well-being. By taking control of your condition you can gain greater independence and confidence in dealing with the physical and emotional challenges of a chronic condition.
Caring For Those With Growth Hormone Deficiency
Friends and family members can help a patient with chronic kidney disease by learning about that condition and understanding how it affects the patient's life. Friends and family can provide emotional and physical assistance. Their support, as well as support from other people who have the same disease, can make it easier to cope.
Source: Adapted from National Institutes of Health
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