Growth Hormone Deficiency Growth hormone deficiency, as the name
implies, is the absence or deficiency of growth hormone produced
by the pituitary gland to stimulate the body to grow. Growth
hormone deficiency may occur during infancy or later in
childhood. Growth hormones are produced by the pituitary gland,
which is attached to the hypothalamus (a part of the brain that
affects the pituitary gland) located at the base of the brain.
Sometimes referred to as the master gland of the endocrine
system, the pituitary gland controls the functions of the other
endocrine glands through the secretion of certain hormones and
also produces human growth hormone. When the pituitary gland or
the hypothalamus are malformed or damaged, growth hormone
deficiency may result. Damage to the pituitary gland or
hypothalamus may occur as a result of abnormal formation of
these organs before a child is born (congenital, or present at
birth), or as a result of damage that occurred during or after
birth (acquired). Researchers have f