Role of Growth Hormone Deficiency and Treatment in Chronic Kidney Disease

Malnutrition and inflammation are strong predictors of mortality in advanced kidney disease, especially in patients on renal replacement therapy. The complex relationship between kidney disease, uremia, and malnutrition significantly contributes to the increased morbidity and mortality in this patient population potentially through a relative deficiency in growth hormone (GH). With an approximate 26 million Americans currently affected by some stage of chronic kidney disease and a predicted 750,000 people to be on dialysis by 2020, there is a need to develop innovative strategies aimed at reducing the high mortality seen in dialysis patients. We will review evidence on one such intervention with infusion of recombinant GH to improve the nutritional and inflammatory state, thereby expecting to improve the mortality and morbidity in this patient population.