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Growth hormone

Overview

Overview

What are growth disorders?

Growth hormone (GH) is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland, which is located at the base of the brain. GH signals tissues to grow the liver and other tissues to release Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1).1

Growth disorders are usually due to the body’s inability to make or use GH. Many conditions causing growth disorders are present at birth, and are the result of genetic mutations. Growth disorders can also be acquired as the result of pituitary damange from trauma, radiation, infection, or tumors. Sometimes, growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or short stature responsive to GH treatment may have no known cause and improve after childhood.

Short stature may occur whether or not there is growth hormone deficiency. Examples include Idiopathic Short Stature and Small for Gestational Age. Some congenital causes of short stature with or without growth hormone deficiency include Turner Syndrome, Russel-Silver Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Noonan Syndrome, and SHOX deficiency.1

Growth hormone deficiency can be treated with injections of growth hormone, usually given daily. Treatment usually lasts until growth stops. In patients with continued growth hormone deficiency treatment continues into adulthood.

Growth hormone insensitivity can be a result of IGF-1 deficiency. This can cause severe short stature, disproportionate body features, and developmental abnormalities. It can be treated with mecasermin, which is a twice daily injection.2

How common are growth disorders?

Short stature occurs in about 2.5% of children. Growth hormone deficiency is diagnosed occurs in approximately 1:4,000 to 1:10,000 children. Adult GH deficiency affects approximately 1:100,000 people per year, with approximately 6,000 new adult cases being diagnosed each year in the United States.3

Questions about your growth hormone disorder therapy?

You can reach the Accredo growth hormone disorders care team, anytime, day or night, seven days a week.

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877-218-0410

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1. Cook, David, et al. "American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for growth hormone use in growth hormone-deficient adults and transition patients-2009 update." Endocrine practice (2010).

2. Human Growth Foundation. (last updated 2015) Epidemiology of Growth Hormone Deficiency. Available at: http://hgfound.org/resources/adult-growth-hormone-deficiency Accessed December 3, 2016.

3. Bamba, Vaneeta. Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency. Medscape. Last Update November 15,2016. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/923688-overview Accessed February 19, 2018.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of growth hormone disorders?

Childhood-onset Growth Hormone Deficiency:1 2
  • Immature facial features
  • Micropenis
  • Slow tooth eruption
  • Delayed lengthening of long bones
  • Fine hair
  • Poor nail growth
  • Truncal obesity
  • High pitched voice
  • Bouts of hypoglycemia
  • Low growth velocity
  • Delayed puberty
  • Low birth weight
Adult-onset Growth Hormone Deficiency:3 4
  • Relative increase in fat mass (especially abdominal and visceral)
  • Decrease in muscle mass
  • Decreased energy levels
  • Anxiety and/or depression
  • Increase in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels

How is it diagnosed?

Growth hormone deficiency is diagnosed using bone age scans, lab tests and MRI’s. Children with GHD have delayed bone age. The wrist or hand is accessed to see how much growth is left. Laboratory tests include IGF-1 level, IGFBP-3 level (insulin growth factor binding protein-3), thyroid hormone level, and insulin tolerance test (ITT). The MRI is performed to rule out a tumor or other abnormality.3

Other considerations with GHD are growth charts to determine the growth percentiles and growth velocity (cm/year). Medical history of the patient and their family is accessed to see if there is a history of hypothyroidism, chromosomal abnormalities, craniofacial disorders, and intrauterine (in utero) growth restriction or infection.

Sometimes, parents try to get growth hormone for their children to grow a “few more inches” even if their child does not meet the requirements for treatment. Or, adults will try to be prescribed GH to “lose some weight” or “get more energy.” These are not valid diagnoses for treatment, and can lead to the abuse of GH. In some states, growth hormone is scheduled as a controlled substance to deter possible abuse.

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1. Bamba, Vaneeta. Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency. Medscape. Last Update November 15,2016. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/923688-overview Accessed February 19, 2018.

2. Rieser, Patricia A. “Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency. Human Growth Foundation. Last Update 2015. http://hgfound.org/resources/pediatric-growth-hormone/ Accessed February 19, 2018.

3. Cook, David, et al. "American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for growth hormone use in growth hormone-deficient adults and transition patients-2009 update." Endocrine practice (2010).

4. Human Growth Foundation. (last updated 2015) Epidemiology of Growth Hormone Deficiency. Available at: http://hgfound.org/resources/adult-growth-hormone-deficiency Accessed December 3, 2016.

Medications

Growth Hormone

The following specialty medications are available at Accredo, a specialty pharmacy for Growth Hormone.

Growth Hormone used for growth disorders:

Drug Manufacturer
Genotropin® (somatropin) Pfizer
Humatrope® (somatropin) Lilly
Increlex® (mecasermin [rDNA origin] injection) Ipsen
Norditropin® (somatropin [rDNA origin] injection) Novo Nordisk
Nutropin AQ® (somatropin) Genetech (Roche)
Zomacton® [somatropin for injection] Ferring B.V.

Growth Hormone used for other conditions:

Drug Manufacturer
Serostim® (somatropin)* EMD Serono
Zorbtive™ [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]* EMD Serono

*Serostim® is only indicated for HIV cachexia and Zorbtive™ is only indicated for short bowel syndrome in adult patients receiving specialized nutritional support.

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Financing Your Care

Financial assistance may be available to help with your medication costs, including manufacturer and community programs. Accredo specialists are available to help find a program that may work for you.

Financial Guidance

Life-saving specialty medication can be expensive. Learn how the Accredo teams help individuals find ways to afford the medication they need to survive in this video.

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Find Support

Growth Hormone Disorders Organizations

There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for Growth Hormone Disorders. See below for a few of those organizations.

Support organizations

Government organizations

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Meet the Team

Accredo’s Growth Hormone Disorders care team is dedicated to serving you and we understand the complexity of your condition. Our expert clinicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any questions.

24-hour Customer Service Center

877-218-0410

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