CT-Determined Body Composition Changes with Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Treatment to Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Growth hormone (GH) is secreted in children as well as in adults. Several studies show an important role of GH in adults. Recent trials with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) have demonstrated profound effects on body composition, metabolism and quality of life.1,2 Salomon et al1 showed that adults with growth hormone deficiency had decreased lean body mass and increased body fat. Treatment with rhGH for six months increased lean body mass (LBM) and reduced body fat. Jorgensen et al2 have shown that four months of GH substitution to GH-deficient adults had a normalizing effect on several physiological variables, which were out of normal range before treatment.