The growth hormone or somatotropin is responsible for the correct growth and development of the individual. Stimulates the growth of body bone mass from birth to the period of puberty.
This hormone plays an extremely important role in the human body., because it is not only responsible for proper growth, but also regulates the amount of muscle, adipose and bone tissue. The deficiency of this hormone implies the appearance of abnormalities in all these structures.
Growth hormone levels in the blood may increase as a result of physical activity..
Index
Growth hormone deficiency, which is caused by a deficiency in the hypothalamic centers or the anterior pituitary gland, is the result of congenital hypoplasia.
When the pituitary gland doesn't make enough growth hormones, growth stops and the child's body proportions are preserved, according to the age at which the disease started, with mental development normally.
Causes of growth hormone deficiency
First of all, we must clarify that the causes of inadequate growth hormone production cannot be determined..
When the pituitary gland makes little or no growth hormone, there is talk of a type of dwarfism called pituitary. This pituitary dwarfism may be a consequence of:
- Surgical intervention
- Infections
- Injuries
- Radius Head Fracture Therapy
Dwarfism is also caused by insufficient action of hormones from other endocrine glands., like the thyroid gland. This case is totally different from a growth hormone deficiency.
Pituitary dwarfism can be distinguished from dwarfism in hypothyroidism, because the latter is characterized by being accompanied by significant mental retardation.
Symptoms and Treatment of Growth Hormone Deficiency
Growth hormone deficiency in children has poor growth and developmental delays. In adults there is a higher density of bone, lipid levels are higher than normal and muscle strength weakening.
When children have a growth hormone deficiency, symptoms such as:
- Growth slowing down
- Low growth
- Young appearance
- Delayed onset of puberty
- Slow tooth growth
- Accumulation of adipose tissue in the waist
In adults the symptoms of pituitary dwarfism are:
- Low muscle mass
- Weight gain, especially around the waist
- Lack of energy, with episodes of fatigue and low tolerance to loads
- Sadness, anxiety, depression and sudden mood swings
- Thin and dry skin
Growth hormone deficiency patients, often suffer from elevated cholesterol and triglycerides.
How is a growth hormone deficiency diagnosed??
To give a diagnosis, biochemical studies will be performed, in particular, a growth hormone stimulation test.
The process consists of introducing a solution of insulin or arginine to the patient, intravenously. Growth hormone levels are then observed over a period of 20-30 minutes, if it is less than 10 μg / ml in children or 3 μg / ml in adults, is diagnosed with a somatotropin deficiency.
Taking certain medications or undergoing tests that use radioactive agents can distort the results..
Other tests for the diagnosis of this disease are the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging study of bone density.
There are many factors that affect the level of growth hormone, like age, the gender, test type and hormone analysis method. Therefore, to study the level of somatotropin in the blood, the standards of the analytical laboratory in which the research is carried out are established.
What is the treatment for a person with growth hormone deficiency?
Treatment of pituitary dwarfism should include a balanced diet, regular exercise and healthy sleep, in addition to pharmacotherapy. The patient with this condition is injected with growth hormone, several times a week.
In some cases it is necessary to intervene surgically the pituitary or apply radiotherapy treatment whether the tumor meets the growth hormone deficiency.
Growth hormone excess
In adults, the growth process of long bones is completed, manifesting in acromegaly, associated with soft tissue growth.
With excessive production of growth hormone, that occurs at a young age, the person can reach a height of 240-250 cm.
But, if overproduction of growth hormone occurs in adults, the growth of the body as a whole is not increased, since it has been completed, but there comes an increase in the size of the body parts, that still retain the ability to grow like fingers and toes, nose, lower jaw, tongue, chest and abdominal cavities.
Symptoms of the patient with excess growth hormone
People with overproduction of growth hormone develop the following clinical and metabolic changes:
- Development of osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Soft tissue hypertrophy, which leads to an increase in feet
- Oily skin, obstructive sleep apnea, increased papillomas (polyps)
- Neurological symptoms including headaches, muscle weakness and arthralgia
- Increased blood pressure
- Hypertrophy of the sweat glands (increased perspiration and odor)
conclusion
Growth hormone stimulates the growth of bone mass from the moment of birth until the period of puberty. To measure the level of this hormone (somatotropin), a blood test is performed to diagnose deficiency or excess of it in the body.
Increased production of growth hormone can be associated with pancreatic tumors, lung, ovary and mammary glands. These may be responsible for an increased production of this hormone.