Effect of growth hormone on bone status in growth hormone-deficient adults

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated with reduced bone mineral content and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Reduced peak bone mass might explain the low bone mineral density (BMD) among patients with childhood onset GHD (CO-GHD) whilst the cause of osteopenia in adult-onset GHD (AO-GHD) is not fully understood. Prospective multicentric study to asses bone status in GHD adults after two years of recombinant growth hormone replacement treatment. In 94 GHD adults (49 men; Ø 34.5 yrs) we have measured BMD and bone markers (CTX, osteocalcin) during two years of rhGH treatment (at baseline, after 3 and 6 months, and after 1 and 2 years). Patients were adequately substituted for GHD and other pituitary deficiencies. We have observed an increase in BMD-lumbar spine: n=42, 0.8155 →0.9418 g/cm2, p