[Prolonged treatment with recombined growth hormone improves bone measures: study of body composition in 21 deficient adults on treatment]

Adult growth hormone deficiency is characterized by changes in body composition: increase in total fat, decrease in lean mass and osteopenia, with a fall in Bone Mineral Content (BMC) and in Bone Mineral density (BMD) leading to a rise in risk of fracture. We have analyzed the changes in body composition in 21 adults treated from 9 to 78 months, by dual X-RAY absorptiometry (DEXA). We've demonstrated a gain in bone mass and density, particularly of axial skeleton; a latence of minimum 12 months has been necessary to objective these changes. The balance of fat and lean mass has been poorly modified by treatment except for the lean mass of the trunk, which is significantly increased. We think that the usual doses of rGH, based on IGF-1 level, are perhaps underestimated.