ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency is related with decreased lean body mass, increased body fat, and poor quality of life. In western countries, adult GH deficiency treatment registriesy provide a database of the effects and safety of GH deficiency treatment. The Korean Adult Growth Hormone Study Group of the Korean Society of Endocrinology register adult GH deficiency since 1996. METHEODS: Subjects were aged over 15 years, had organic hypothalamo-pituitary disease, and GH deficiency as documented by GH stimulation test or serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) level. The underlying etiology for GH deficiency, serum IGF-I level, starting and maintenance dose, and adult GH deficiency assessment (AGHDA) score were investigated. RESULTS: From January 1996 to May 2001. 115 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 43.7 13.8 years and 60% were female. Thirteen medical institutions were involved in the registry. The most common underlying diseases were Sheehan's syndrome and pituitary adenomas. GH starting dose was from 0.4 to 1.0 units. Maintenance dose was between 0.5 and 1.2 units. Serum IGF-I levels were increased after GH treatment (0-week, 93.7 69.7 ng/mL; 2-weeks, 184.9 89.0 ng/mL; 6-weeks, 188.4 94.8 ng/mL; 10-weeks, 207.6 111.1 ng/mL; 6 months, 281.9 95.5 ng/mL). AGHDA scores slightly improved from 10.25 6.70 to 8.58 5.47 after 6 months of GH deficiency treatment. CONCLUSION: The GH Treatment Registry will be beneficial in monitoring the effects of GH deficiency treatment on Korean adult GH deficient subjects