Growth hormone for growth hormone deficient adults

Anthony D, Milne R
Record ID 31998008893
English
Authors' objectives:

Currently, the majority of growth hormone deficient (GHD) adults do not receive growth hormone replacement. Growth hormone replacement therapy has recently been licensed to treat GHD adults. The authors examine how worthwhile this is.

Authors' results and conclusions: The best of the four trials (in terms of study methodology) suggests that there is a small but not statistically significant improvement in quality of life with GH treatment. However numerous RCTs have linked GH treatment with increased exercise capacity, near-normalisation of body composition, improved cardiac structure and function and increased bone mineral density. Potential benefits from GH treatment are reduced cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and reduced fracture risk. These benefits were not quantifiable.
Authors' recommendations: The author concludes that there is certainly high quality evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of growth hormone in improving exercise performance, body composition, bone mineral density and cardiovascular status, but its impact upon quality of life and future mortality and morbidity, and the potential for long-term side effects, remains unclear. In view of the evidence of benefit but at high cost, the authors offer limited support, stressing the need for guidelines to aid the selection of patients who stand to benefit most from growth hormone treatment.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk
Year Published: 1997
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Growth Hormone
  • Growth Disorders
Contact
Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development
Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662
Copyright: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development (WIHRD)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.