[Growth hormone substitution in adulthood. Use of recombinant human GH--strict diagnostic criteria]

Human growth hormone (GH) is produced in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland not only in childhood but also in the adult. It has an influence on the physical performance, composition and metabolism of the adult organism. A complex system of endocrine and paracrine factors mediate the influence of growth hormone, and its deficiency in the adult leads to such typical clinical symptoms as fatigue, a lack of drive, poor physical performance and truncal obesity. Since recombinant human growth hormone can now be produced by gene technology in unlimited amounts, it has become possible to investigate new indications for growth hormone therapy in adults. GH replacement has recently become an accepted form of treatment of patients with proven GH deficiency after controlled clinical trials had shown it to have beneficial results.