A patient with Turner Syndrome usually has a short stature that is responsive to therapy with growth hormone. Therapy with growth hormone has a number of other consequences for the patient.
Indication for growth hormone therapy: child whose height is less than 5% for age
Therapy with growth hormone may expose underlying scoliosis, which needs to be identified and corrected.
Adverse effects of growth hormone therapy:
(1) intracranial hypertension
(2) slipped capital femoral epiphyses
(3) pancreatitis
Problems in patients with Turner Syndrome probably unrelated to growth hormone therapy:
(1) osteoporosis
(2) aortic dissection or rupture
Additional problems may arise if:
(1) the start of growth hormone therapy is delayed
(2) it is given for too long.
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