Severe GH deficiency in childhood additionally has the following measurable characteristics:
Proportional stature well below that expected for family heights, although this characteristic may not be present in the case of familial-linked GH deficiency
Below-normal velocity of growth
Delayed physical maturation
Delayed bone age
Low levels of IGF1, IGF2, IGF binding protein 3
Increased growth velocity after a few months of GH treatmentIn childhood and adulthood, the diagnosing doctor will look for these features accompanied by corroboratory evidence of hypopituitarism such as deficiency of other pituitary hormones, a structurally abnormal pituitary, or a history of damage to the pituitary. This would confirm the diagnosis; in the absence of pituitary pathology, further testing would be required. Classification
Growth hormone deficiency can be congenital or acquired in childhood or adult life. It can be partial or complete. It is usually permanent, but sometimes transient. It may be an isolated deficiency or occur in association with deficiencies of other pituitary hormones.The term hypopituitarism is often used interchangeably with GH deficiency but more often denotes GH deficiency plus deficiency of at least one other anterior pituitary hormone. When GH deficiency (usually with other anterior pituitary deficiencies) is associated with posterior pituitary hormone deficiency (usually diabetes insipidus), the condition is termed panhypopituitarism. Treatment
GH deficiency is treated by replacing GH with daily injections under the skin or into muscle. Until 1985, growth hormone for treatment was obtained by extraction from human pituitary glands collected at autopsy.
History
Like many other 19th century medical terms which lost precise meaning as they gained wider currency, "midget" as a term for someone with severe proportional shortness acquired pejorative connotations and is no longer used in a medical context.Notable modern pop cultural figures with growth hormone deficiency include actor and comedian Andy Milonakis, who has the appearance and voice of an adolescent boy despite being in his 40s. Argentine footballer Lionel Messi was diagnosed at age 10 with growth hormone deficiency and was subsequently treated. See also
Hypothalamic–pituitary–somatic axis

References
External links
Am Assoc Clinical Endocrinologists - practice guidelines and recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of GH deficiency, reflecting standard practice among U.S. endocrinologists