The most common causes of GHD in adults are damage to parts of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland due to tumors, surgery, cranial radiation, or traumatic brain injury.


AGHD is an underdiagnosed condition1
AGHD symptoms are often masked by more common comorbidities like metabolic disorders or cardiovascular disease.3-5


AGHD is an underdiagnosed condition1
AGHD symptoms are often masked by more common comorbidities like metabolic disorders or cardiovascular disease.3-5
There are 2 types of AGHD2,5,6
Congenital (from genetic mutations or structural brain defects).
Acquired (from surgery, trauma, infection, radiation therapy, or tumor growth).


Why it is critical to test for AGHD
Why it is critical to test for AGHD
If left undiagnosed, AGHD may lead to increased risk for premature mortality, significant morbidity, and multiple signs and symptoms, including3-5,7
- Decreased psychological well-being
- Social isolation
- Abnormal heart function
- Decreased lean muscle
- Reduced muscle strength
- Increased low density lipoprotein
- Increased abdominal fat
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Insulin resistance
- Decreased psychological well-being
- Social isolation
- Abnormal heart function
- Decreased lean muscle
- Reduced muscle strength
- Increased low density lipoprotein
- Increased abdominal fat
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Insulin resistance
The clinical findings of AGHD are nonspecific and usually of little diagnostic value.8
The clinical findings of AGHD are nonspecific and usually of little diagnostic value.8
Measuring growth hormone (GH) secretion
Measuring growth hormone (GH) secretion
It can be difficult to measure GH because it is secreted episodically in a pulsatile pattern with peaks and troughs and is influenced by a number of factors, including age, gender, and body mass index. Approximately 65% of GH production occurs at night, activated by slow-wave sleep. Because trough secretion makes up more than half the day, GH secretion may be undetectable by routine testing.9,10
Measuring insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a standard assessment of GH function; however, 50% of patients with AGHD have IGF-1 levels within the normal reference range. At the same time, patients with a normal response to GH evaluation can show low IGF-1 levels.11,12
The landscape for AGHD testinga

aThis chart is not intended to be a comparison of efficacy or safety.16
bObserve the patient being tested per routine for the duration of the test.
The landscape for AGHD testinga
Insulin tolerance test (ITT)1,13,14
Macrilen™1,15,16
Procedure
Intravenous
Oral
Number of blood draws
5 to 8
4
Test time for patient
2-hour minimum
1.5 hours
Medical supervision
Intensive
Routineb
Contraindications
Patients with epilepsy, aged >55 years, with cerebrovascular disorders or with ischemic heart disease
None
Potential adverse events (AEs)
- Hyperhidrosis
- Somnolence
- Hunger
- Feeling hot
- Dizziness/fatigue
- Dysgeusia
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Hunger
aThis chart is not intended to be a comparison of efficacy or safety.16
bObserve the patient being tested per routine for the duration of the test.
What is Macrilen™?

Find out how this innovative test helps you diagnose patients with AGHD.
What is Macrilen™?

Find out how this innovative test helps you diagnose patients with AGHD.
How to order

Learn how you can start ordering Macrilen™ for your patients.
How to order

Learn how you can start ordering Macrilen™ for your patients.