Growth Hormone Deficiency in Children (cont.)

Medical Author:

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Growth hormone deficiency can be treated with growth hormone replacement therapy. A drug called somatropin or growth hormone (Nutropin, Genotropin, Norditropin, Saizen, Humatrope) is injected into the fat underneath the skin. Shots are usually given daily. There are longer acting (given weekly) preparations of growth hormone under study, but at the moment, none have yet been approved by the FDA. For children with growth hormone resistance (who do not respond to growth hormone), treatment with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, Increlex) is possible.

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