Somatropin in adults: new preparation. No benefit

(1) Growth hormone deficiency in adults is a poorly defined disease, and its impact in terms of morbidity and mortality is not known. (2) The assessment files on the three somatropin ranges are based on results for nearly 600 adult patients included in placebo-controlled trials. (3) While clinical trials are relatively numerous, their quality is mediocre. Only methodological trickery enabled the authors to elicit significant results using surrogate end points; no benefit of somatropin on tangible clinical criteria has been proven. (4) At the beginning of treatment somatropin frequently has adverse effects linked to water and sodium retention; the risk of severe adverse effects has not been ruled out (diabetogenic or carcinogenic effects). (5) Treatment necessitates chronic daily injections.