Growth hormone deficiency

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Growth hormone deficiency

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Growth hormone deficiency is a condition that occurs when the pituitary gland fails to release enough growth hormone.

Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin, helps promote overall growth of the body, muscle mass development, protein synthesis, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

So a deficiency in growth hormone, which can occur in kids and adults, results in problems in all of these areas.

Growth hormone is released by the pituitary which is a pea sized gland that is connected by a stalk to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus secretes growth hormone releasing hormone which travels through a network of capillaries called the hypophyseal portal system.

Releasing hormone eventually reaches the anterior pituitary and triggers it to secrete growth hormone.

Growth hormone then travels via the blood to various target tissues in the body to stimulate growth. This is called the hypothalamic pituitary axis.

Normally, growth hormone is released in a pulsatile manner, throughout the day and peaks one hour after you fall asleep, but it is also secreted in response to various forms of internal and external stimuli.

For example, the hypothalamus senses when there’s hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and in response it secretes growth hormone releasing hormone.

Exercise causes the adrenal glands to secrete epinephrine and that stimulates the hypothalamus to react in the same way.

Estrogen and testosterone which are produced in high levels during puberty, stimulate the hypothalamus to release growth hormone releasing hormone as well.

Summary

Growth hormone (GH) is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Growth hormone deficiency is a medical condition in which the body does not produce enough growth hormone. Growth hormone deficiency can cause failure to grow, delayed puberty, short stature, and other health problems.

Sources

  1. "Robbins Basic Pathology" Elsevier (2017)
  2. "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Twentieth Edition (Vol.1 & Vol.2)" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  3. "Pathophysiology of Disease: An Introduction to Clinical Medicine 8E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2018)
  4. "CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2019)
  5. "Harrison's Endocrinology, 4E" McGraw-Hill Education / Medical (2016)
  6. "Adult growth hormone deficiency" Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism (2011)
  7. "Evaluation and Treatment of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline" The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006)
  8. "Comparison between Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia and Growth Hormone (GH)-Releasing Hormone + Arginine as Provocative Tests for the Diagnosis of GH Deficiency in Adults" Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (1998)
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