Question

Outline the effects and possible causes and treatments for hyper- and hyposecretion of Growth Hormone(Somatotropin). Outline the complete pathway of Growth Hormone secretion and control.

Answer 1

HYPERSECRETION OF GROWTH HORMONE:

EFFECTS: Gigantism, acromegaly, delayed puberty, risk for cardiac problems like cardiomegaly, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, galactorrhea in women, hyperprolactinemia, erectile dysfunction, hyperphosphatemia, visceral organs like heart, kidneys, spleen are enlarged in size than normal.

CAUSES: The major cause for the hypersecretion of growth hormone is the pituitary gland tumor.

TREATMENT: Surgery or radiation therapy. Sometimes pharmacological therapy can be given to supress the growth hormone secretion. Drugs like octreotide can be given as somatostatin analogue. Pegvisomat, a GH receptor blocker can also be given which shows promising results.

HYPOSECRETION OF GROWTH HORMONE:

EFFECTS: Short stature, delayed puberty, sluggish hair growth, slow tooth development, Increased fat around face and stomach, baldness in adults, decreased sexual function, insulin resistance, very low energy, weight gain.

CAUSES: Genetics, injury to the pituitary gland, radiation therapy, infection.

TREATMENT: Somatotropin like Humatrope and genotropin can be given to the patients as growth hormone analogues which seves the fumction of growth hormone.