Reduced bone mineral content in adult patients with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

Bone mineral content was measured in a follow-up study of adult patients with hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency. There were 95 patients (59 males, mean age 54.0 years, range 21–74 years; 36 females, mean age 53.5 years, range 31–73 years). Routine replacement therapy with cortisone acetate and l-thyroxine was given. All males that were gonadal deficient were on proper testosterone therapy, except in four patients who were treated separately. Bone mineral content (g/cm) was measured using dual-photon absorptiometry in the third lumbar vertebra. Bone mineral content in the patients was compared with a control population (N=413, 25–74 years of age). Bone mineral content was significantly lower in males (N= 55, p<0.05) compared with controls. In females, bone mineral content was significantly lower both among the subjects with untreated gonadal deficiency (p<0.001) and among those with treated gonadal deficiency and normal premenopausal gonadal function (p<0.005) compared with controls. To summarize, patients with hypopituitarism on routine replacement therapy but not growth hormone have a lower bone mineral content than the controls. The reduced bone mineral content might be a result of untreated growth hormone deficiency.