by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: December 22, 2008

Human growth hormone (HGH) is the primary treatment for Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) in children, especially teens. While media coverage highlighting the use of HGH to gain athletic edge has sensationalized the reasons not to take HGH, teens with biochemical GHD, Turner's Syndrome, Chronic Renal Insufficiency, Precocious Puberty and children who have had radiation treatments need HGH therapy to grow to their genetic potential.

Growth Hormone Deficiency

HGH is naturally secreted from the pituitary gland in the brain into the blood stream. Children who fail to grow an average of two inches per year are candidates to be tested for GHD. Most children will grow normally until the age of two or three.

A pediatric endocrinologist should perform the GHD screening. When other factors for short stature, like dysmorphic syndromes, are ruled out, HGH production is stimulated with a chemical agent, like clonidine. Over the next eight to twelve hours, the blood level of HGH will be monitored.

HGH levels normally rise right after the patient falls asleep and will vary throughout the day. Screening will often include several HGH samples taken at 24 hour intervals to determine if the natural HGH level is compromised. Endocrinologists are will also measure a specific growth hormone, IGH-1.

Early detection of GHD is necessary, as HGH cannot produce any growth after the bones fuse between the ages of 16 and 18.

Turner's Syndrome

Only females have Turner's Syndrome. All females have two X chromosomes, which determine sex. Turner's Syndrome is caused by a spontaneous mutation or lack of a portion of one X chromosome. The short stature homeobox (SHOX) chromosome is missing or altered, causing a lack of height and infertility.

Many Turner's patients have physical manifestations, including: Lowered ears, lowered rear hairline, webbed neck, upturned fingernails, swollen hands and feet- particularly at birth, cubitus valgus, lazy eyes and jaw malformation. Other symptoms of Turner's include hypothyroidism, another pituitary disorder, heart defects, kidney abnormalities which cause urinary tract infections (UTI), ear infections because the ears are formed differently and scoliosis.

HGH is prescribed to girls with Turner's Syndrome to increase height and produce the onset of puberty. Many girls will grow three inches in the first year of HGH therapy. The additional HGH allows girls to physically mature to their chronological age.

Chronic Renal Insufficiency

Kidney disease and chronic kidney failure

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