REDUCED BONE-MINERAL CONTENT IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY

Bone mineral content was measured in a follow-up study of adult patien ts with hypopituitarism and growth hormone deficiency. There were 95 p atients (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 pop ulation (N = 413. 25-74 years of age). Bone mineral content was signif icantly lower in males (N = 55. p < 0.05) compared with controls. In f emales, bone mineral content was significantly lower both among the su bjects with untreated gonadal deficiency (p < 0.001) and among those w ith treated gonadal deficiency and normal premenopausal gonadal functi on (p < 0.005) compared with controls. To summarize, patients with hyp opituitarism on routine replacement therapy but not growth hormone hav e a lower bone mineral content than the controls. The reduced bone min eral content might be a result of untreated growth hormone deficiency,