Dwarfism is a condition that causes short stature in children and adults. The term is characterized as a full grown adult who is 4 feet 10 inches or less in height. It can be caused by a wide range of genetic, hormonal, and medical conditions. The most common form of dwarfism is achondroplasia which occurs in 70% of all patients.

How effective is HGH therapy in patients diagnosed with dwarfism?

Over the past several years the use of HGH or human growth hormone injections, has helped to change the way that the medical world looks at achondroplasia treatment. Today, the growth hormone is being used to increase the height of patients who have been diagnosed with this type of dwarfism. So far, use of the hormone injection has been successful with the largest amount of growth taking place in patients during the first year of use.

When should HGH therapy be administered?

Most experts recommend that for best results the therapy should be initiated to the patient between the ages of one and six years. At this time there is no long-term evidence to prove if prolonged HGH treatment can make a noticeable difference if the treatment is administered to the patient on into adulthood.