HGH as a Treatment for Improper Growth in Children with Renal Disease
Chronic renal disease is the gradual loss of kidney function. If a kidney transplant is not received, a child with chronic renal disease can have permanent kidney failure. After a certain amount of loss of kidney function, a child will be placed on dialysis. While dialysis prolongs the life of a person with renal disease, it is not a cure. A person must receive a transplant from either a relative or unknown donor. All patients with renal failure are placed on a waiting list for a kidney transplant from an unknown donor.
A person's kidneys are responsible for the removal of waste products and excess fluids in a human's system. Additionally, it is responsible for the release of hormones and other necessary nutrients. Renal disease, in children, is usually hereditary or congenital, meaning that they inherited it or were born with it because of a malformation in the womb. However, it can also be caused by some form of trauma to the kidneys.
Some of the symptoms of kidney disease include headaches, loss of appetite, fatigue, frequent urination, bloated arms and legs, nausea, and darkening of the skin. The most common tests for renal disease are performed by taking blood or urine samples, both of which can determine if nutrient levels are abnormal.
Children with renal disease often experience growth retardation. Because dialysis prolongs the life of a person with renal disease until transplant, short stature is a common problem. Human growth hormone can help a child grow naturally while they are suffering with renal disease.
Growth generally improves after transplant when a body's organs begin to again function normally. However, the anti-rejection drugs that must be taken in order to prevent a person's body from rejecting their transplanted organ can continue to interfere with normal growth. For this reason, many parents choose to continue HGH treatment after transplant.
