Growth hormone and bone diseases.

Recombinant human GH is now widely used for the treatment of short stature in diseases other than growth hormone deficiency. GH treatment increases bone mineral density in growth hormone deficiency, but a study using conventional method for the calculation of volumetric bone mineral density suggested that this effect was mainly due to the increase in bone size. A more accurate method for the evaluation of volumetric bone mineral density is needed. The effect of GH on mineral metabolism is another point of interest. GH administration induced dramatic changes in serum levels of mineral regulating hormones such as PTH and active vitamin D metabolites. These changes may provide us with new methods for the treatment of metabolic bone disorders.