Risks of Somatotropin

Growth hormone, or somatotropin, is a hormone that is produced by the anterior pituitary gland, located in the front of the pituitary. Somatotropin stimulates the production of another hormone by the liver, somatomedin. The release of these hormones causes growth within the body. This potent growth hormone can be used to treat several conditions including short stature, dwarfism and Noonan syndrome. Some athletes take supplements of synthetic somatotropin or the fat metabolism, muscle growth, and inability to use glucose associated with this hormone.

Pediatric Use

• Nutropin is an injectable form of somatotropin. It is used for long-term treatment of growth failure due to a lack of natural growth hormone production and Turner's syndrome. Nutropin can also be used to help prevent chronic renal (kidney) failure up to the time of a transplant. This is always used in conjunction of other renal failure management.

Adult Use

• Adult patients with adult onset growth hormone deficiency alone or associated with other conditions, such as hypopituitarism. Adults can also use somatotropin who were lacking adequate growth hormone since childhood.

Side Effects

• Somatotropin is a protein, and supplementation side effects include the creation of antibodies to this protein. This can cause the body to attack these proteins as if it was invading the body. This in an autoimmune responce. Leukemia has been reported in those using somatotropin treatments. However, evidence is lacking to determine whether it was an underlying condition, GH treatment itself, or other treatments in conjunction of the somatotropin that caused this outcome. Other side effects include gynecomastia (growth of breast tissue male or female), pancreatitis, edema, and muscularskeletal pain.