Understanding Growth Hormone Deficiency in HIV Lipodystrophy

-Suman Srinivasa, MD

Perturbations in the growth hormone (GH) axis are common among the well-treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population [1]. Acquired GH deficiency (GHD) secondary to HIV is a clinical diagnosis in the absence of known pituitary or hypothalamic pathology and should be differentiated from idiopathic adult GHD. Studies have determined that a GH peak cutoff of 7.5 ng/mL during the GHRH-arginine test can adequately discriminate GHD in HIV-infected individuals compared to healthy individuals with good specificity. As much as a third of HIV-infected individuals are estimated to have an inappropriate response to GHRH-arginine stimulation testing [2].

Announcement on Zervas Lectureship

The Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center welcomes Drs. Laura Dichtel and Melanie Schorr

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Dr. Laura Dichtel earned her medical degree at the Yale University School of Medicine and then completed her residency training at Brigham and Women?s Hospital and fellowship in endocrinology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).?At MGH,?Dr. Dichtel sees patients?with pituitary and neuroendocrine disorders. In addition, Dr. Dichtel is an attending physician on the inpatient consult service, teaches medical students and residents, and performs clinical research in the Neuroendocrine Unit.

Partners In Excellence Award

Agata Litra, Medical Assistant in the Massachusetts General Hospital Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center, has been awarded a Partners in Excellence Award. ?This award was bestowed on Ms. Litra?because?of her exceptional commitment to patient care.? Ms. Litra is indispensable in the delivery of the highest quality care to our patients, who come from all over the country and world?to our tertiary care pituitary center. She does everything she possibly can to help our patients directly and to aid physicians in taking care of Center patients, from?greeting patients with warmth and compassion to?tracking down lab results from laboratories outside MGH. Ms. Litra is key to the high quality care that the Center is able to provide, and we congratulate her on this extremely well-deserved award.

Research Studies Available

Patients may qualify for research studies in the Neuroendocrine Unit. We are currently accepting the following categories of patients for screening to determine study eligibility. Depending on the study, subjects may receive free testing, medication and/or stipends.