What is low growth hormone?
Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth and cell reproduction. A growth hormone deficiency (GHD) means that the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone.
When growth hormone levels are too low, it can lead to several health issues. Some key facts about low growth hormone:
- It most often affects children, but can also occur in teens and adults. In children, it is known as pediatric GHD.
- The most common symptoms are short stature, increased body fat, decreased muscle mass, and soft bones.
- Blood tests and medical imaging such as MRI scans are done to diagnose GHD. A stimulation test measures growth hormone levels after ingestion of substances like arginine or clonidine.
- Treatment is vital and involves daily injections of synthetic growth hormone called somatropin. Early treatment leads to better growth outcomes.
- Untreated GHD can result in short height and increased risk of health problems like high cholesterol, osteoporosis, and insulin resistance.
What causes low growth hormone?
There are several potential causes of GHD:
- Genetic mutations affecting the pituitary gland
- Damage to the pituitary from a tumor, radiation, injury, or infection
- Some chronic illnesses like renal failure or Prader-Willi syndrome
- Idiopathic GHD, meaning no known cause
Rarely, the problem lies outside the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus may not signal properly or growth hormone receptors can be defective.
Diagnosing growth hormone deficiency
If GHD is suspected, a pediatric endocrinologist will carry out tests such as:
- Growth monitoring - Plotting height and growth rate on a growth chart over time
- Bone age - X-ray to determine maturity of bones
- GH stimulation test - Measuring GH levels before and after arginine or clonidine administration
- IGF-1 levels - Blood test of insulin-like growth factor 1 controlled by GH
- MRI scan - Imaging for pituitary abnormalities
Treatment will only begin after confirming the diagnosis through clinical presentation and biochemical tests.
Treating GHD with growth hormone therapy
The primary treatment for GHD is injectable synthetic growth hormone or somatropin. Brand names like Genotropin, Humatrope, Norditropin, Nutropin, and Saizen are bio-engineered replicas of natural GH.
- Injections are given subcutaneously once daily, often before bedtime.
- Dose depends on weight, height, age and is adjusted over time.
- Treatment is continued until achieving full growth potential and adult height.
- Side effects may include headaches, muscle pain, joint stiffness, and increased pressure behind the eyes.
- Regular monitoring by an endocrinologist is essential.
Treating GHD can allow children to reach normal height and body composition. Adults also benefit in terms of body fat, bone density, exercise capacity and cholesterol levels. See an endocrinologist right away if your child has signs of growth failure. The expert doctors at Renew Clinic offer advanced GH treatment and holistic care for growth and wellness.