Editorial: Sermorelin: A better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency? || FREE PAPER ||

(2557) Views  (427) Full article downloads

Author: Richard F Walker

Published Date September 2006 Volume 2006:1(4) Pages 307 - 308

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S

Richard F Walker

International Society for Applied Research in Aging (SARA)

Growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) using recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) has been embraced by many age management practitioners as one of the most effective methods for opposing somatic senescence currently available. However, its routine use has been controversial because few clinical studies have been performed to determine the potential risks of long-term therapy. Also, certain medical and legal issues have not been resolved causing some practitioners to restrict their use of the product. Some of these issues include the fact that:

• Improper dosing can lead to side effects that may be serious in some patients,
• Injection of hGH creates unnatural conditions of exposure to the hormone that may erode normal physiology,
• The Code of Federal Regulations specifically forbids the use of rhGH in adults except for treatment of AIDS or human growth hormone deficiency (GHD) diagnosed pursuant to regularly accepted guidelines.