Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (hGH), Somatotropin

Results

A growth hormone (GH) test measures the amount of human growth hormone (GH) in the blood.

Normal

Normal results may vary from lab to lab.

Growth hormone (GH)

Men	Less than 5 micrograms per litre (µg/L) or less than 5 nanograms per millilitre (ng/mL)
Women	Less than 10 µg/L or less than 10 ng/mL
Children	0–10 µg/L or 0–10 ng/mL
Newborn	10–40 µg/L or 10–40 ng/mL

High values

• High GH values may mean gigantism or acromegaly is present. These conditions are caused by a non-cancerous tumour in the pituitary gland (adenoma). Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels may also be high.
• High GH levels may also be caused by diabetes, kidney disease, or starvation. These conditions do not cause high IGF-1 levels.

Low values

• Low values may mean dwarfism in a child who is not growing normally.
• Low values in an adult may mean pituitary failure (hypopituitarism). This can be caused by conditions such as cancerous tumours or sarcoidosis.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: December 1, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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