Growth Hormone Therapy (GHT) is a targeted endocrine intervention involving the subcutaneous administration of synthetic recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH) to patients presenting with a confirmed deficiency or specific catabolic states. This clinical protocol aims to restore the circulating levels of somatotropin to a physiological range, thereby mitigating the associated adverse metabolic, skeletal, and body composition consequences of Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD). Precise dosing and careful monitoring of downstream biomarkers like Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 are essential for therapeutic safety and efficacy.
Origin
The therapeutic use of Growth Hormone began in the mid-20th century with the extraction of the hormone from human cadaveric pituitary glands, a practice later halted due to safety concerns. The modern, safe era of GHT commenced in the 1980s with the revolutionary application of recombinant DNA technology, enabling the bio-synthetic production of pharmacologically identical human Growth Hormone in unlimited quantities.
Mechanism
Administered rhGH exerts its primary effects by binding to specific Growth Hormone receptors on the cell surface, most notably within the liver. This receptor activation stimulates the hepatic synthesis and secretion of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which acts as the major effector of Growth Hormone’s anabolic and metabolic actions. The resulting elevation in the GH/IGF-1 axis promotes lipolysis, enhances protein synthesis, improves lean body mass, and influences bone mineral density through endocrine and paracrine signaling pathways.
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