Human Growth Hormone
Treatment of human growth hormone deficiency in children
Growth hormone deficiency is treated by replacing human growth hormone (HGH). All human growth hormone (HGH) prescribed in North America, Europe, and most of the rest of the world is a synthetic copy of human human growth hormone, manufactured by recombinant DNA technology. As human growth hormone is a large protein molecule, it must be injected into subcutaneous tissue or muscle to get it into the blood. Nearly painless insulin syringes make this less trying than is usually anticipated but perceived discomfort is a subjective value.
When a person has had a long-standing deficiency of HGH, benefits of treatment are often obvious, and side effects of treatment are rare. When treated with HGH, a deficient child will begin to grow faster within months. Other benefits may be noticed, such as increased strength, progress in motor development, and reduction of body fat. Side effects of this type of physiologic replacement are quite rare. Known risks and unsettled issues are discussed below, but human growth hormone deficient children receiving replacement doses are at the lowest risk for problems and receive the greatest benefit.
Buying HGH
Still, costs of treatment in terms of money, effort, and perhaps quality of life, are substantial. Treatment of children usually involves daily injections of growth hormone, usually for as long as the child is growing. Lifelong continuation may be recommended for those most severely deficient as adults. Most pediatric endocrinologists monitor growth and adjust dose every 3-4 months. Assessing the psychological value of treatment is difficult but most children and families are enthusiastic once the physical benefits begin to be seen. Treatment costs vary by country and by size of child, but $US 10,000 to 30,000 a year is common.
Little except the cost of treating severely deficient children is controversial, and most children with severe growth hormone deficiency in the developed world are offered treatment. Most accept. The story is very different for adult deficiency.
Treatment of adult human growth hormone deficiency
Research has shown that human growth hormone treatment can provide a number of measurable benefits to severely human growth hormone-deficient adults, such as enhanced energy and strength, and improved bone density. Muscle mass may increase at the expense of adipose tissue. Blood lipid levels improve, but long term mortality benefit has not yet been demonstrated.
human growth hormone for severe adult deficiency is usually prescribed as daily injections at a weekly dose about 25% of children's doses and comparably lower cost. Despite the potential benefits, most adults with human growth hormone deficiency are not being treated due to a combination of factors such as unwillingness of young adults to seek medical care, unacceptability of injections, inadequate insurance coverage, and significantly lower rates of diagnosis and treatment offer by internist endocrinologists.
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