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Adult GHD

Meaning

Adult GHD is a clinical state of growth hormone deficiency occurring after the fusion of the epiphyseal growth plates, often resulting from pituitary or hypothalamic pathology or persisting from childhood-onset GHD. It is characterized by insufficient production of somatotropin, leading to significant alterations in body composition, lipid metabolism, and overall quality of life. The diagnosis requires specialized provocative testing to confirm inadequate GH secretion, which is essential for determining the appropriate therapeutic intervention. Physicians utilize precise diagnostic criteria to distinguish this from the normal age-related decline in GH.