More about childhood-onset AGHD
In many people, adult growth hormone deficiency is the continuation of a disorder that began in infancy or childhood. This type of AGHD is referred to as childhood onset AGHD.
In some cases, the causes of GH deficiency in childhood cannot be determined; this type of disorder is referred to as idiopathic. Known causes may include:
- Developmental defects in or near the pituitary gland
- Genetic problems with the production of GH
- Damage to the pituitary gland or the surrounding area due to tumors, infection, radiation treatment, or severe head injury
Some children with GH deficiency may gain the ability to secrete GH with time and may not require GH therapy as adults. However, scientific evidence suggests that many adults who were GH-deficient as children and continue to be GH-deficient as adults may need to continue therapy into adulthood in order to have enough GH to meet metabolic demands as adults (although many factors can contribute to such conditions).
Signs and symptoms of childhood-onset AGHD may include:
- Increased body fat, especially around the abdomen
- Decreased muscle mass
- Lower bone mineral density
- Predisposition to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
