Growth-Related Disorders
Other Therapy Areas
Explore diabetes
Explore obesity
Explore rare bleeding disorders
Explore growth-related disorders
Explore hormone replacement therapy
Medical Information | Non-US Health Care Professionals
Account Settings
Sign Out
Sign In | Create Account
  • Growth-Related Disorders Home
    • Products
      Treatment & Diagnostic Test
    • Professional Resources
      Product Resources Library Contact Your Representative
    • Disease Education
      Clinical Education Resources Pediatric Growth-Related Disorders (Basics) Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency
    • Treatment Guidelines
      PES & AACE Guidelines
    • Additional Resources
      Organizations & Conferences
    • Product Education
      Product Education Materials
    • Disease Education
      Disease Education Resources Advocacy & Support Groups
    • Access & Affordability
      Insurance Support & Prescription Savings
  • Sign In
    Create Account
    • Account Settings
    • Sign Out
    Other Therapy Areas
    Medical Information
    Non-US Health Care Professionals

Actor portrayal

In adults, growth hormone deficiency is underdiagnosed1

adult growthhormone deficiency

Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is an underdiagnosed condition commonly associated with pathology of the hypothalamic-pituitary region. Patients with AGHD tend to live with a poor quality of life and often present with other clinical signs and symptoms.1  

AGHD numbers in the US2

adults with a diagnosis

Actor protrayal

new cases reported annuallya

Actor protrayal

AGHD (combining both adult-onset GHD and childhood-onset GHD) is presumed to affect 2 to 3 adults per 10,000, but the true incidence rate is difficult to estimate.1  

aIncludes children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) transitioning to adulthood.


What is adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD)?1

Adults can be diagnosed with AGHD in childhood (childhood-onset GHD) and adulthood (adult-onset GHD).

Childhood-Onset GHD

Most frequent causes:
  • Idiopathic

Other causes:

  • Genetic abnormalities and other congenital causes
  • Brain structural defects, including agenesis of corpus callosum,  empty sella syndrome, midline facial defects, and more
  • Acquired causes including perinatal insults, pituitary adenomas, and certain brain tumors

Adult-Onset GHD

Most frequent:
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary tumors and/or their treatments, including surgery and radiation

Also associated with:

  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Ischemic stroke
  • Central nervous system infections

Actor protrayal

Common symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency1

  • Decreased lean body mass 
  • Increased fat mass
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Cardiac dysfunction
  • Decreased fibrinolysis and premature atherosclerosis
  • Decreased muscle strength and exercise capacity
  • Decreased bone mineral density
  • Increased insulin resistance

Common symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency1

  • Decreased lean body mass 
  • Increased fat mass
  • Dyslipidemia
  • Cardiac dysfunction
  • Decreased fibrinolysis and premature atherosclerosis
  • Decreased muscle strength and exercise capacity
  • Decreased bone mineral density
  • Increased insulin resistance

Diagnosing AGHD

Diagnosing adult growth hormone deficiency can be challenging due to a lack of a single biologic endpoint.
  • Random serum growth hormone (GH) levels cannot be used alone, because GH is naturally secreted in a pulsatile pattern by the pituitary gland and changes with age, gender and body mass index.
  • Low serum IGF-1 levels may result from causes other than AGHD, such as protein or calorie malnutrition, renal failure or chronic liver disease.1
GH-stimulation tests are recommended for appropriate adult patients, but are not required for those with a predictably high likelihood of GHD, such as patients with genetic defects affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axes, with hypothalamic-pituitary structural brain defects, or with organic hypothalamic-pituitary disease with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and low IGF-1 levels.1  

Actor protrayal

The diagnosis of AGHD is dependent upon the accuracy and reliability of the GH-stimulation test used.1
Multiple methods of testing are available. These are described in clinical guidelines by The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology.1  

AGHD is underdiagnosed because it lacks a single biologic endpoint and often requires testing for diagnosis since random serum GH and IGF-1 cannot be used alone.1

Learn about a diagnostic test

References:

  1. Yuen KCJ, Biller BMK, Radovick S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology Guidelines for Management of Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults And Patients Transitioning From Pediatric to Adult Care. Endocr Pract. 2019;25(11):1191-1232.
  2. Brod M, Pohlman B, Højbjerre L, Adalsteinsson JE, Rasmussen MH. Impact of adult growth hormone deficiency on daily functioning and well-being. BMC Res Notes. 2014;7:813.
Growth-Related Disorders
Other Therapy Areas
Explore diabetes
Explore obesity
Explore rare bleeding disorders
Explore growth-related disorders
Explore hormone replacement therapy
  • Growth-Related Disorders Home
  • Product Information
    Products
    • Treatment & Diagnostic Test
    Professional Resources
    • Product Resources Library
      Contact Your Representative
  • Professional Education
    Disease Education
    • Clinical Education Resources
      Pediatric Growth-Related Disorders (Basics)
      Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency
    Treatment Guidelines
    • PES & AACE Guidelines
    Additional Resources
    • Organizations & Conferences
  • Patient Support
    Product Education
    • Product Education Materials
    Disease Education
    • Disease Education Resources
      Advocacy & Support Groups
    Access & Affordability
    • Insurance Support & Prescription Savings

novoMEDLINK™ is a trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.
Novo Nordisk is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S.
All other trademarks, registered or unregistered, are the property of their respective owners.
Non-US Health Care Professionals, please go to pro.novonordisk.com.

Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Contact Us |
novonordisk-us.com    
© 2021 Novo Nordisk All rights reserved.  US21HCP00062  October 2021

Quick links

Treatment & diagnostic test

Insurance support & patient savings

Pediatric disorders overview

Clinical education for your patients