성인 성장호르몬 결핍증

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a clinical syndrome associated with increased morbidity and possibly mortality. Many clinical studies over the past decade show beneficial effects of replacement therapy with recombinant human growth hormone in GHD in adults. GH replacement in patients with GHD induces reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, improvement of lipid profile, normalization of body composition and improvement of exercise capacity, as well as enhanced psychological well-being. To make a diagnosis of GHD, insulin-induced hypoglycemia is recommended as a standard test, but the arginine-GH-releasing hormone test achieves comparable separation between normal and hypopituitary subjects in most groups. GHD should be always confirmed by the results of biochemical, especially provocative, tests, and therapy should be limited to those with biochemically proven growth hormone deficiency. (Korean J Med 75:257-261, 2008)