Human growth hormone

Preview

When is a short child too short? Many conditions can delay or slow growth (eg, intrauterine growth retardation, chronic renal failure), but the only one that is universally agreed on as requiring hormone therapy is deficient pituitary secretion of growth hormone. The expense and the side effects (known as well as potential) of this therapy necessitate careful surveillance. Dr LaFranchi summarizes studies using growth hormone to treat short stature or to take advantage of its metabolic effects, and he discusses which patients may benefit from its use.