Human Growth Hormone: Ethical and Economic Considerations of Use and Misuse

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the evolution of human growth hormone as an important therapeutic agent, highlighting its potential for misuse and abuse and including a discussion of economic and ethical considerations facing health care providers in using human growth hormone as a therapeutic agent. DATA SOURCES: Scientific, clinical, and pharmacy literature. STUDY SELECTION: Not applicable. DATA EXTRACTION: Not applicable. DATA SYNTHESIS: This article chronicles the progression of human growth hormone as a therapeutic drug from its beginning in the 1950s through its current recombinant human form. Current clinically accepted indications for this drug are discussed, along with several recently investigated uses that have stirred controversy among physicians, insurance companies, and managed care organizations from both economic and ethical standpoints. CONCLUSION: While recombinant human growth hormone is a valuable drug in a number of clinical conditions such as growth failure, Turner's syndrome, and renal failur...