RhGh did not consistently affect blood pressure or bone mineral density .
RhGH consistently improved quality of life ( QoL ) parameters reflected in AGHDA-scores .
Conclusion RhGH replacement in elderly subjects with GHD  decreases LDL cholesterol levels and improves QoL , but the effects on other parameters are not unequivocal .
There were no data on the efficacy and safety  of rhGH treatment in octogenarians with GHD
Context Recombinant human GH ( rhGH ) is prescribed for the treatment of adults with GH deficiency ( GHD ) .
However , conflicting data are available on the efficacy of rhGH treatment in elderly GHD patients .
Objective To assess the efficacy of rhGH treatment in elderly GHD subjects .
Baseline characteristics and effects of growth hormone therapy over two years in younger and elderly adults with adult onset GH deficiency.
CONTEXT The effects of GH replacement in elderly GH-deficient ( GHD ) adults are not well known . OBJECTIVE / DESIGN / PATIENTS In this prospect i ve , single-center , open-label study , baseline characteristics and the effects of 2-yr GH replacement were determined in 24 GHD adults above 65 yr of age and in 24 younger GHD patients ( mean age , 37 yr ; range , 27 - 46 yr ) . All patients had adult onset disease , and both groups were comparable in terms of the number of pituitary hormonal deficiencies , gender , body mass index , and waist/hip ratio . Duration of hypopituitarism was , however , longer in the elderly patients . RESULTS The mean maintenance dose of GH was 0.31 ( sem , 0.03 ) mg/d in the elderly GHD patients and 0.44 ( 0.04 ) mg/d in the younger patients . The less marked response in IGF-I sd score , total body fat , and extracellular water in the elderly patients lost significance when the dose of GH was accounted for in the statistical analyses . Despite the lower dose in the elderly GHD group , these patients had a more marked reduction in waist/hip ratio and serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level , and these differences remained also after correction for duration of hypopituitarism . There was no difference at baseline or in responsiveness in lean mass , bone mineral density , and glucose homeostasis . CONCLUSIONS This study identifies elderly GHD adults as a GH-sensitive group in whom a low dose of GH can improve body composition and serum lipid profile without any significant impairment of glucose metabolism .  GH replacement should therefore be considered in elderly GHD adults
RhGh did not consistently affect blood pressure or bone mineral density .
RhGH consistently improved quality of life ( QoL ) parameters reflected in AGHDA-scores .
Conclusion RhGH replacement in elderly subjects with GHD  decreases LDL cholesterol levels and improves QoL , but the effects on other parameters are not unequivocal .
There were no data on the efficacy and safety  of rhGH treatment in octogenarians with GHD
Context Recombinant human GH ( rhGH ) is prescribed for the treatment of adults with GH deficiency ( GHD ) .
However , conflicting data are available on the efficacy of rhGH treatment in elderly GHD patients .
Objective To assess the efficacy of rhGH treatment in elderly GHD subjects .