Clinical features in the adult

Growth hormone deficiency in adults usually arises from benign pituitary tumours and their treatment.

Clinical features include:

• altered body composition
• increased abdominal adiposity
• reduced skeletal muscle mass

• reduced bone mineral density
• fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance
• dry, thin skin
• psychological features including
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • emotional lability
• raised plasma cholesterol, low HDL

Reference

1. Ho KK, 2007 GH Deficiency Consensus Workshop Participants. Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with GH deficiency II: a statement of the GH Research Society in association with the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Lawson Wilkins Society, European Society of Endocrinology, Japan Endocrine Society, and Endocrine Society of Australia. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007 Dec;157(6):695-700.