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Symptoms of adult growth hormone can be classified into five types, including neuropsychiatric and cardiac problems, and metabolic, bone, and muscular abnormalities.
Symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency are nonspecific. Some people may be asymptomatic.
Reported symptoms of adult growth hormone can be classified into five types, which include:
- Neuropsychiatric problems:
- People with growth hormone deficiency frequently complain of the following:
- Low energy levels
- Mental fatigue
- Uncontrollable changes in mood
- Low perceived quality of life
- Fibromyalgia syndrome (widespread muscle pain and tenderness)
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory impairment
- Growth hormone treatments for 6 to 12 months can significantly improve the following:
- Energy levels
- Self-esteem
- Emotional reactions
- People with growth hormone deficiency frequently complain of the following:
- Cardiac problems:
- Growth hormone deficiency is associated with endothelial dysfunction in which the large blood vessels on the heart’s surface become narrow with or without any blockages.
- Growth hormone deficiency can lead to the following cardiovascular side effects:
- Increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- High waist to hip ratio
- High-fat deposition around the abdomen (truncal fat)
- Plaque formation that leads to heart disease
- Due to high fats in the trunk, a person with adult growth hormone deficiency appears as rounded.
- Adults with growth hormone deficiency have seven percent higher total fat and altered lipid levels than those without the deficiency.
- This alteration in lipid levels is responsible for the increase in the thickness of arterial walls.
- It can increase the risk of heart diseases or even death.
- Due to decreased skeletal and heart muscle strength, the following problems can occur:
- Decreased exercise performance
- Reduced oxygen consumption
- Declined cardiac output
- Metabolic abnormalities:
- People with growth hormone deficiency can have increased abdominal fat and reduced lean body mass.
- Being overweight can result in increased insulin resistance, resulting in increased blood sugar levels.
- Bone abnormalities:
- An 18-month therapy with growth hormone can improve bone mineral density and provide strength to the bones.
- Symptoms of bone abnormalities include:
- Osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- Increased risk of fractures
- Low bone mass
- Muscular abnormalities:
- Growth hormone deficiency is associated with reduced muscle mass and impaired muscle functions, which results in symptoms that include:
- Decreased muscle mass
- Decreased strength
- Growth hormone deficiency is associated with reduced muscle mass and impaired muscle functions, which results in symptoms that include:
In general, symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency are as follows:
- Changes in memory, processing speed, and attention
- Lack of well-being
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Social isolation
- Impaired sleep
- Fatigue
- Lack of strength
- Dysfunction of the nerves that control the voluntary muscles
- Increased fat mass
- Decreased lean body mass
- Decreased exercise performance
- Decreased heart capacity
- Thin, dry skin
- Decreased muscle mass
- Decreased bone density
- Impaired heart function
- Decreased insulin sensitivity
- Accelerated formation of plaques in the inner lining of the arteries
- Increased LDL cholesterol levels
- Increased risk of clot formation
- Decreased sweating and ability to maintain body temperature
What is adult growth hormone deficiency?
Adult growth hormone deficiency is a growth hormone deficiency acquired during adulthood or can be a transition of childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency.
Growth hormone deficiency occurs due to reduced growth hormone secretion from the pituitary gland. Damage to the pituitary glands or hypothalamus (that controls the pituitary glands) leads to growth hormone deficiency.
3 causes of adult growth hormone deficiency
Causes of adult growth hormone deficiency can be divided into three categories, which include:
- Congenital causes of adult growth hormone deficiency include genetic defects or brain structure defects, such as:
- Agenesis of the corpus callosum (disorders of the corpus callosum [the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain])
- Septo-optic dysplasia (a disorder of early brain development)
- Empty Sella syndrome (a condition in which the pituitary gland shrinks or becomes flattened)
- Encephalocele (sac-like protrusion of the brain)
- Hydrocephalus (buildup of fluid around and within the brain)
- Arachnoid cyst (a most common type of brain cyst)
- Acquired causes of growth hormone deficiency include:
- Tumor in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- Head injury
- Stroke
- Bleeding in the base of the brain
- Infections to the brain such as meningitis
- Previous surgery to remove a pituitary tumor
- Radiation therapy
- Sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body)
- Tuberculosis
- Histiocytosis (a group of disorders or syndromes that involve an abnormal increase in immune cells called histiocytes)
- Adult growth hormone deficiency can occur due to unknown reasons (idiopathic).
How is adult growth hormone deficiency treated?
The most common way to treat adult growth hormone deficiency is to use growth hormone injections.
Growth hormone injections can have various beneficial effects on the symptoms of growth hormone deficiency including:
- Effects on body composition and bone mineral content:
- Growth hormone therapy, when given for a year, can
- Decrease body fat with most reduction occurring in the abdomen.
- Improve lean tissue or muscle mass.
- Reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Growth hormone, when given for 18 months, increases the bone mineral density and reduces the risk of fractures.
- Growth hormone therapy, when given for a year, can
- Effects on physical performance:
- Growth hormone therapy has a direct effect on the heart and muscle cells, thus increasing the following:
- Exercise performance
- Oxygen consumption
- Cardiac output
- Growth hormone therapy has a direct effect on the heart and muscle cells, thus increasing the following:
- Effects on lipids:
- Growth hormone therapy, when combined with a statin, shows a significant reduction in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
- Effects on psychological well-being:
- Growth hormone therapy, when taken for 6 to 12 months, can improve the following:
- Muscle strength
- Energy levels
- Emotional reactions
- Thinking and reasoning ability
- Growth hormone therapy is known to reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia.
- Growth hormone therapy, when taken for 6 to 12 months, can improve the following:
- Effect on muscles:
- Growth hormone therapy improves muscle mass and neuromuscular function.
Side effects of growth hormone therapy
Growth hormone therapy can cause the following side effects:
- Edema (swelling)
- Discomfort in the joints
- Redness at the injection site
- Headache
- Hip pain
- Scoliosis (sideways curving of the spine)
- Muscle pain
Lowering the dose of growth hormone can alleviate the side effects.
People who are old and obese are more prone to the side effects of growth hormone therapy.
Other considerations for growth hormone therapy
A growth hormone therapy should be injected daily during bedtime and should be avoided in people who:
- Have active cancer or tumor.
- Are seriously ill.
- Have multiple injuries from major accidents.
- Have breathing problems.
People with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels while taking growth hormones.
