Chandigarh, July 12
Anxiety, depression, increased body fat around waist or loss of libido are symptoms indicating adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD).

Though unheard of among adults, the deficiency of the growth hormone even today is considered a deficiency prevdent among children. This despite the fact that the department of endocrinology at the PGI alone receives around 15 cases of AGHD every month, which includes only those patients who are diagnosed with the deficiency after the surgery of the pituitary tumour. “Awareness among both the patients and the doctors about AGHD is less though its prevalence is quite high,’’ said Dr Anil Bhansali, Head of Department of endocrinology at PGI addressing the mediapersons here today adding, “there certainly would be more cases which are simply not diagnosed as the awareness about the deficiency among the public and doctors themselves is negligible.’’ The PGI plans to start research on a group of patients who have undergone pituitary tumour surgery to see the results of giving the growth hormones.

While the growth hormone’s deficiency is easily identified in the children due to their poor growth, among adults the symptoms are so generalised and subtle that it is only through proper diagnostic tests that it is pinpointed.

“Extreme care has to be taken while diagnosing the deficiency as not all depressions or weight gains are due to AGHD. The bio-chemical and stimulation tests are conducted and then the growth hormone is injected in the patients. The treatment normally lasts six months to one year, but in some cases can extend up to the entire life time,’’ said the HoD.

Chandigarh, July 12
The PGI’s three-member fact-finding committee recorded the statement of law officer Tajinder Singh Bagga today in the case pertaining to the brawl between the Law Officer and the Deputy Director, Administration (DDA) Ms Meeta Rajivlochan, that took place last Friday.

The committee, comprising the Dean PGI, Prof Sudha Suri, along with the Head of the Department of Ophthalmology, Prof Amod Gupta, and Head of the Department of Gynaecology, Prof Sarala Gopalan, had earlier recorded the statement of the DDA on Saturday.