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Physiopathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of GH Deficiency

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Diseases

Part of the book series: Endocrinology ((ENDOCR))

  • 246 Accesses

Abstract

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults arises due to decreased secretion of GH from the pituitary gland. Until two decades ago, GHD in adults was not accepted as a clinical syndrome, and it was supposed that GH has little physiologic effects after adolescence. However after the advent of recombinant GH, physiologic role of GH becomes clearer in the adult life, and the studies during the last two decades revealed GHD as a real disease associated with a plenty of clinical manifestations. GHD is one of the most common hormonal deficiencies in adults with hypopituitarism due to variety of causes. In the present chapter, acquired causes, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of GHD in adults will be discussed based on the recent advances in the literature.

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  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Erciyes University Medical School, Kayseri, Turkey

    F. Tanriverdi & F. Kelestimur

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  1. F. Tanriverdi
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  2. F. Kelestimur
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  1. DepT of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Univ de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Felipe F. Casanueva

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetol, University of Torino, Torino, Torino, Italy

    Ezio Ghigo

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Tanriverdi, F., Kelestimur, F. (2018). Physiopathology, Diagnosis, and Treatment of GH Deficiency. In: Casanueva, F., Ghigo, E. (eds) Hypothalamic-Pituitary Diseases. Endocrinology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-38681-2_2-1

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