Skip Navigation
Menu
Editorials |6 August 2002

Controversy about Treatment of Growth Hormone–Deficient Adults: A Commentary

Lawrence A. Frohman, MD

Article, Author, and Disclosure Information
Author, Article, and Disclosure Information
  • University of Illinois at Chicago; Chicago, IL 60612

    Requests for Single Reprints: Lawrence A. Frohman, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine (MC-640), 1819 West Polk Street, Chicago, IL 60612-7343; e-mail, Frohman@uic.edu.

×
FULL TEXT
Growth hormone deficiency was first described in children with growth retardation, and for three decades, the therapeutic use of growth hormone was restricted to promoting linear growth. Two developments—the appearance of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and the availability of recombinant human growth hormone—ended the use of human pituitary-derived growth hormone therapy and opened the possibility of using growth hormone in growth hormone–deficient adults. For the past 13 years, such use has been a reality. As with many other areas of medicine, the introduction of a new therapy is associated with initial excitement, followed by a period of careful analysis of the results of therapy and, not infrequently, a degree of controversy about its benefits. Growth hormone is no exception to this paradigm, and the salient points of growth hormone replacement in adults have been reviewed by several authors (1-3). In addition, the specificity of the manifestations of the disorder to which therapy is directed—adult growth hormone deficiency—has been questioned.
In this issue, Dr. Cook (4) and Dr. Isley (5) provide strong arguments for diametrically opposed positions concerning growth hormone treatment for adult growth hormone deficiency. For readers already convinced of the validity of either argument, the discussion that follows may not be of particular relevance. However, for those searching for a position between the two extremes, I will attempt to offer a rationale for a “middle ground.”
The controversy is based on many issues. First, physicians do not agree on whether the manifestations of adult growth hormone deficiency constitute a specific...
FULL TEXT
PDF
Not Available
Citations
Citation

Frohman LA. Controversy about Treatment of Growth Hormone–Deficient Adults: A Commentary. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:202–204. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-3-200208060-00013

Download citation file:

© 2020

×
Permissions

Published: Ann Intern Med. 2002;137(3):202-204.

DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-137-3-200208060-00013

©
2002 American College of Physicians
9 Citations

Related Articles
Shouldn't Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency Be Offered Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Annals of Internal Medicine; 137 (3): 197-201
Effects of Growth Hormone Administration on Inflammatory and Other Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Men with Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial
Annals of Internal Medicine; 133 (2): 111-122
Effects of Physiologic Growth Hormone Therapy on Bone Density and Body Composition in Patients with Adult-Onset Growth Hormone Deficiency: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Annals of Internal Medicine; 125 (11): 883-890
Growth Hormone Therapy for Adults: Not Ready for Prime Time?
Annals of Internal Medicine; 137 (3): 190-196
View MoreView Less

Related Topics
Endocrine and Metabolism

Endocrine and Metabolism.

CONTINUE WITH LIMITED ACCESS
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
acp link acp
silverchair link silverchair

Copyright © 2020 American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Print ISSN: 0003-4819 | Online ISSN: 1539-3704

Privacy Policy

|

Conditions of Use

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
×

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.

×
PDF Downloads Require Access to the Full Article.
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
Access to this Free Content Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In. Please Choose One of the Following Options
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×