Clinical actions of growth hormone

Although biotechnology has provided physicians with essentially unlimited supplies of growth hormone (GH), there are currently only a few clear-cut indications for exogenous GH therapy. Data now support the use of GH in the treatment of children with GH deficiency and short girls with Turner syndrome. Tantalizing preliminary data suggest that GH therapy has a role in the management of short, poorly growing children with other causes for their growth failure. Recent studies have examined the utility of GH therapy in GH-deficient adults, whereas other studies suggest that GH improves the clinical status of GH-sufficient older adults. This article explores the recent data underlying these claims.