Pharmacology: growth hormone related drugs

Question 1

Answer 1

Question 2

Growth hormone deficiency
- Results in what condition?
- How does this manifest in children and adults?
- Treatment?

Answer 2

Pituitary dwarfism

Children: short stature
Adults: wasting

Recombinant human growth hormone (aka. somatotrophin)

Question 3

Growth hormone deficiency - pituitary dwarfism
- ADRs of recombinant human growth hormone (somatotrophin)

Answer 3

Local injection site reactions (lipoatrophy)
Muscle and joint pain/stiffness
Peripheral oedema
Hypothyroidism

Question 4

Growth hormone excess
- How does it manifest in children and adults?
- 3 drug treatments?

Answer 4

In children: gigantism; in adults: acromegaly
Somatostatin analogues
GH recetpor antagonists Dopamine agonists

Question 5

Growth hormone excess
Somatostatin analogues
- Two examples?
- Is it first line?
- Can it cause hypothyroidism as a side effect?

Answer 5

Lanreotide, octreotide
Yes
Yes

Question 6

Growth hormone excess
GH receptor antagonist
- Example?
- When is it used?

Answer 6

Pegvisomant
When somatostatin analgoues haven’t normalised GH and IGF levels

Question 7

Dopamine agonists
- Are these counterintuitive?
- Example

Answer 7

Yes - as it paradoxically reudces GH release.
Bromocriptine