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IN THE BALANCE

Shouldn't Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Be Offered Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy?

David M. Cook, MD

6 August 2002 | Volume 137 Issue 3 | Pages 197-201

Growth hormone as therapy for adults with growth hormone deficiency has not been universally accepted by endocrinologists who treat adult patients. The following are addressed in this commentary: the evidence on safety and efficacy in the literature supporting the idea that growth hormone should be offered as replacement therapy to adults who are growth hormone deficient; common concerns of the average prescribing endocrinologist, including the purported association between insulin-like growth factor-I and malignant neoplasms and quality-of-life issues with long-term therapy; and controversial subjects, such as differences in dosing for adults versus children and diagnostic issues. This analysis should encourage reluctant practitioners to at least consider growth hormone replacement therapy for patients with definite growth hormone deficiency—that is, patients with symptomatic panhypopituitarism.

Author and Article Information

From Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.

Requests for Single Reprints: David M. Cook, MD, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road—L 607, Portland, OR 97201-3098; e-mail, cookd{at}ohsu.edu.

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