These include growth-hormone deficiency of unknown cause or as a result of impairment of the pituitary gland’s ability to produce the hormone, owing to traumatic injury or irradiation to treat cancer. It is also administered to children who fail to grow because of chronic renal insufficiency or significant genetic abnormalities, including Turner syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
增高激素一般用在各类身高不足的儿童身上，其中包括出于未知因素，严重受伤或者癌症化疗导致脑垂体受损而患有增高荷尔蒙缺陷的儿童，以及患有慢性肾功能不足或明显遗传异常，包括特纳综合症，努范氏综合症以及普瑞德-威利综合症等病症的儿童。