[Growth hormone therapy in adulthood].

Only a few controlled studies on replacement therapy with growth hormone (GH) in adults have been published. These studies have demonstrated that GH leads to an increase in muscle mass and a decrease in fatty tissue. In addition, there is an improvement in renal and cardiac function. To date, there has been only a single study demonstrating the efficacy of pharmacotherapy with growth hormone in the elderly. Again, an increase in muscle and bone mass, and a decrease in fat mass, an increase in skin thickness, and an improvement in overall wellbeing was reported. Although these studies do not unequivocally demonstrate the benefit of GH treatment, they are interesting enough to warrant further studies on replacement therapy, and also on pharmacotherapy with growth hormone.