Notesale: Turn your study into money

Document Preview

Extracts from the notes are below, to see the PDF you'll receive please use the links above

---

Growth Hormone Tests: What You Need to Know
The pituitary gland in your brain produces various hormones, including growth hormone (GH)
...

GH is essential for proper human growth and development, particularly in children and adolescents
...

If your doctor feels that your body is creating too much or too little GH, he or she will request blood
tests to detect GH levels
...


GH Test Protocol and Types
There are various types of GH tests, and the testing methodology differs depending on the test your
doctor recommends
...
In general, your doctor will instruct you to:
●
●
●

fast for a specific period before the test
stop taking the vitamin biotin, or B7, at least 12 hours before the test
stop taking certain prescription medications a few days before the test, if they might interfere
with the test results

Your doctor may give you extra preparation instructions for specific tests
...
If your doctor suspects that the levels of GH in your body are abnormal, he
or she will most likely request one or more of the following tests
...
A
healthcare expert will use a needle to obtain a sample of your blood for the test
...

The blood sample will be submitted to a laboratory for testing
...

However, because GH levels in your body regularly fluctuate and decrease during the day, this may
not be enough information to assist your doctor to establish a diagnosis
...

If you have an excess or a deficit of GH, you will have higher or lower-than-normal IGF-1 levels
...
Both tests need only
one blood sample
...
These tests are often performed for screening purposes, allowing your doctor to determine
whether more testing is required
...


GH Suppression Test
A GH suppression test allows your doctor to determine whether your body generates too much GH
...
Then you'll be given
a standard solution containing glucose, a form of sugar
...

Several more blood samples will be drawn at scheduled intervals over the next two hours after you
consume the solution, by a healthcare expert
...

Glucose reduces GH production in the majority of persons
...


GH Stimulation Test
A GH stimulation test assists your doctor in determining whether you have an excess or shortage of
GH production
...
They will
next provide medicine that causes your body to release GH
...

The samples will be sent to a lab and compared to the predicted GH levels at each time point following
stimulant administration
...

The GH serum and IGF-1 tests are the most basic, requiring simply a blood sample
...
Your real expenses may differ based
on how much your healthcare team charges for services like taking your blood and delivering it to the
lab
...
If your test results indicate
that you may have a GH-related issue or that more testing is required, your doctor's office will
normally contact you to schedule a follow-up appointment
...
If the findings are out of the ordinary, your doctor will almost certainly
request GH suppression or stimulation testing
...
If your IGF-1 level was also elevated, your doctor may suspect GH
overproduction
...

If your hormone levels are low during a GH stimulation test, your body did not produce as much GH
as predicted
...
Again, your doctor
will most likely urge more tests to be sure
...
3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are deemed normal
...

For stimulation testing, a peak concentration of more than 5 ng/mL in children and more than 4 ng/mL
in adults are deemed typical
...
In
youngsters, for example, some standards recommend a peak concentration over 10 ng/mL to rule out
GH insufficiency using stimulation testing
...
These are some
examples:
●
●
●

delayed growth and bone development
delayed puberty
below average height

GHD is uncommon and is seldom the reason for a child's small height or delayed growth
...

Slow development is also typical in youngsters, especially just before puberty
...


If there is evidence that a child's body is creating too much GH, GH testing may be beneficial
...


GH Testing in Adults
Adults need GH to maintain muscle mass and bone density, as well as to control metabolism
...
A lipid profile,
a standard blood test, may reveal changes in the amounts of fat in your blood
...

Extra GH in adults can lead to an uncommon disorder known as acromegaly, which causes bone
thickening
...




---