MEDICAL USE OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONES
Synthetic human growth hormone was developed in 1985 and approved by the FDA for specific uses in children and adults. In children, HGH injections are approved for treating short stature of unknown cause as well as poor growth due to a number of medical causes, including:
- Turner's syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects a girl's development.
- Prader-Willi syndrome, an uncommon genetic disorder causing poor muscle tone, low levels of sex hormones, and a constant feeling of hunger.
- Chronic kidney insufficiency.
- HGH deficiency or insufficiency.
- Children born small for gestational age.
- Short bowel syndrome, a condition in which nutrients are not properly absorbed due to severe intestinal disease or the surgical removal of a large portion of the small intestine.
- HGH deficiency due to rare pituitary tumors or their treatment.
- Muscle-wasting disease associated with HIV/AIDS (WebMD).