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Growth hormone deficiency
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Growth hormone deficiency is characterized by abnormally short height due to lack (or shortage) of growth hormone. It can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. Most of the time, no single clear cause can be identified. Most cases are identified in children. Although it is uncommon, growth hormone deficiency may also be diagnosed in adults.[1] Too little growth hormone can cause short stature in children, and changes in muscle mass, cholesterol levels, and bone strength in adults.[2] In adolescents, puberty may be delayed or absent. Treatment involves growth hormone injections. [1]


References
  1. Kaneshiro NK. Growth hormone deficiency - children. MedlinePlus. 2010 Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001176.htm. Accessed September 28, 2011.
  2. Eckman AS. Growth hormone test. MedlinePlus. 2010 Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003706.htm. Accessed September 28, 2011.
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More Detailed Information Organizations Medical Products Services Scientific Conferences Clinical Trials & Research
 
More Detailed Information (Found 2 resources)
Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates. Disclaimer

  • General

    • eMedicine has 2 articles on this topic from the perspective of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine. You may need to register to view the information online, but registration is free. Click on the links above to view the articles from this medical reference Web site.
    • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
 Organizations Providing General Support | Social Networking Websites
Organizations (Found 7 resources)
Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information. Disclaimer



  • Organizations Providing General Support

  • Social Networking Websites

    • DNAandU.org is a Web site and blog that collects firsthand stories from people facing issues, making tough decisions, and using genomic (DNA) information in their own healthcare.  Click on the link to learn from their experiences and/or submit your own story.

    • Madisons Foundation
      P.O. Box 241956
      Los Angeles, CA 90024
      Telephone: 310-264-0826
      Fax: 310-264-4766
      E-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org  
      Web site: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/  
    • RareShare is an online social hub dedicated to patients, families and healthcare professionals affected by rare medical disorders.
 
Medical Products (Found 9 resources)
Disclaimer



  • The medications listed in the table below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of this condition. The FDA Office of Orphan Products Development designates "orphan products" for those that treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans. The table below may not be an exhaustive list of drugs or products used to treat this condition. There may be other products available that are not considered orphan products. To search all FDA approved drugs, visit Drugs@FDA You can find orphan products used to treat other conditions by searching the Orphan Drug Product Designation database.


    Generic NameTrade Name
    (Manufacturer Name)    		Indicationinformation iconResourcesinformation icon
    Sermorelin acetateGeref
    (EMD Serono, Inc.)    		Treatment of idiopathic or organic growth hormone deficiency in children with growth failure.Drug Information Portal
    Somatrem for injectionProtropin
    (Genentech, Inc.)    		For long-term treatment of children who have growth failure due to a lack of adequate endogenous growth hormone secretion.Drug Information Portal
    SomatropinNutropin®
    (Genentech, Inc.)    		For use in the long-term treatment of children who have growth failure due to a lack of adequate endogenous growth hormone secretion.Drug Information Portal
    SomatropinGenotropin®
    (Pfizer)    		Treatment of adults with growth hormone deficiency.Drug Information Portal
    Somatropin (rDNA origin)Nutropin®
    (Genentech, Inc.)    		Long-term treatment of growth failure due to a lack of adequate endogenous growth hormone secetion for once- or twice-a-month administration.
    Somatropin (rDNA origin)Saizen®
    (EMD Serono, Inc.)    		Long term treatment of children with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone. Drug Information Portal
    Somatropin (r-DNA) for injectionNorditropin®
    (Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals)    		Long-term treatment of children who have growth failure due to inadequate secretion of endogenous growth hormone.Drug Information Portal
    Somatropin (r-DNA) for injectionHumatrope®
    (Eli Lilly and Company)    		For the long-term treatment of children who have growth failure due to inadequate secretion of normal endogenous growth hormone.Drug Information Portal
    Somatropin (r-DNA) for injectionNutropin®
    (Genentech, Inc.)    		Treatment of children with growth failure associated with chronic renal insufficency.
 
Services (Found 2 resources)
Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories. Disclaimer

    • Many individuals want to know about healthcare professionals or researchers who have knowledge of their conditions. When a condition is rare, it can be difficult to find someone who has seen many cases. Although there is no list of experts in rare diseases, GARD's How to Find an Expert fact sheet provides several ways to identify healthcare professionals who have experience with a particular condition. Click on the link to access this resource and learn more.

  • Parent Resources

    • The Parent Technical Assistance Center Network provides a list of the Parent Training and Information Centers in each state. These centers are funded by the United States Department of Education to provide early intervention and special education information and training to parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 26. Click on the link to find the Parent Center in your state.
 
Scientific Conferences (Found 2 resources)
Resources where you can find information on completed and upcoming scientific conferences and programs. Disclaimer

  • Past Conferences

    • RDCRN 3rd Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases, October 2, 2012
      Location: Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Rockville, MD
      Description: Clinical research in rare diseases presents a number of challenges and unique issues that are not usually considered in the training of clinical investigators through existing training programs. Goals of the conference include: direct instruction of trainees and new investigators in rare disease research methodology; development of a reusable curriculum/syllabus on rare disease research methodology; and stimulation of ideas regarding the unique issues facing investigators engaged in the study of rare diseases.
    • VI International Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICORD 2010): Global Approach to Accessibility in Rare Diseases, Orphan Drugs and Neglected Diseases , March 18, 2010 - March 20, 2010
      Location: Palais Rouge Convention Center, Palermo, Buenos Aires
      Description: For the first time, the VI International Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs (ICORD 2010) was convened in the southern hemisphere in agreement with its aim of globalization of rare diseases research and orphan products development activities.
 
Clinical Trials & Research (Found 3 resources)
Resources where you may find research studies and clinical trials. Disclaimer

    • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Growth hormone deficiency. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.
    • NIH Clinical Trials and You is a website developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate.
  • Patient Registry

    • ResearchMatch is a free national research registry designed to bring together patients, healthy volunteers and researchers. Anyone from the United States can register with ResearchMatch, and a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker may register on behalf of a volunteer. Researchers from participating institutions use the ResearchMatch database to search for patients or healthy volunteers who meet the study criteria. Many studies are looking for healthy people of all ages, while some are looking for people with specific illnesses. ResearchMatch was developed by major academic institutions across the country and is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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