The chapter begins with a discussion on growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults. The goals of GH therapy differ in children and adults. The chapter lists the causes of childhood-onset GHD as well as adult-onset GHD. GHD occurs when the pituitary gland is unable to produce sufficient quantities of GH to carry out its growth and metabolic tasks. Presently, the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and the growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)+arginine are considered the best tests to diagnose GHD. The chapter briefly discusses topics relevant to GHD in children and adolescents, such as recombinant human growth hormone treatment. It ends with a discussion on pituitary hormone replacement in women. Topics discussed include treatment of adrenocortotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency, treatment of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiency, gonadotroph deficiency, androgen replacement, GH replacement therapy, and vasopressin replacement therapy.

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doi.org/10.1002/9781118559406.ch26, hdl.handle.net/1765/91466
Department of Internal Medicine

Janssen, J., van der Lely, A.-J., Rogol, A. D., & Ioachimescu, A. G. (2013). Hormone Replacement Therapy. In Laws Jr., E.R., Ezzat, S., Asa, S.L., Rio, L.M., Michel, L., Knutzen, R., Pituitary Disorders: Diagnosis and Management. doi:10.1002/9781118559406.ch26