Hormone
|
Disorder
|
Symptoms
|
Treatment
|
Growthhormone
|
Too little
|
failure of growth, often linked with failure of sexual
maturity
|
Administration of growth hormone. (This is in very short
supply.)
|
Growth hormone
|
Too much
|
Excessive growth in childhood leading to very long limbs
(gigantism). In adults causes excess growth in skull, feet and hands,
enlargement of larynx, deepening of voice, thickening of skin (acromegaly)
|
Treatment of gland by radiotherapy, or removal of part of
gland (the other pituitary hormones may then need to be replaced)
|
Prolactin
|
Too much
|
Periods stop, breasts may produce milk and be tender,
infertility
|
Tablet treatment to reduce production
|
Anti-diuretic
hormone
|
Too little (or kidneys fail to respond to hormone
produced)
|
Production of large quantities of very dilute urine
(diabetes Insipidus)
|
Synthetically produced hormone usually given as a nasal
spray. Hormone then absorbed into blood
|
Thyroxine
|
Too much
|
Weight loss, large appetite, excess body heat, periods may
stop in women. One form, (Graves' disease) also causes 'popping' eyes
|
Anti-thyroid drugs; radioactive iodine by mouth to destroy
cells that are over-producing; surgery to remove part of gland
|
|
|
Thyroxine
|
Too much
|
Loss of appetite, but overweight and general body
swelling. Lassitude, constipation. In infants produces condition called
cretinism, associated with failure of physical and mental development.
|
Replacement of missing hormones at carefully-controlled
doses needed for life. Screening of newborn infants for cretinism is
imperative, So the problem can be dealt with as early as possible.
|
Parathormone
|
Too much (usually due to tumour)
|
Passing a great deal of urine, indigestion, kidney stones,
feeling of malaise.
|
removal of tumour
|
Parathormone
|
Too little
|
Muscular spasms, convulsion, lassitude, mental disturbance
|
Administration of vitamin D tablets mimics the action of
the missing hormone
|
Hormones of
adrenal cortex
(e.g. aldosterone, cortisol)
|
Too much
|
Muscle wasting and weakness, leading to thin limbs but
obese trunk. Fragile bones and blood vessels leading to purple stretch
marks on skin Diabetes, high blood pressure (Cushing's syndrome)
|
Drug treatment to block cortisone production. Where only
one adrenal gland is involved as a result of a tumour in the pituitary
or elsewhere
|
Hormones of
adrenal cortex
|
Too little
|
Faintness, nausea, loss of weight, low blood sugar,
increased pigmentation on skin (Addison's disease)
|
Cortisone tablets administration for life at
carefully-controlled dosage
|
Adrenalin
|
Too much
|
Episodes of palpitation, fright, raised blood pressure,
fast pulse, leading to permanently raised blood pressure, pale face or
occasional flushing.
|
Removal of adrenalin-secreting tumour (usually found in
the adrenal medulla)
|
Insulin
|
Too little
|
High blood sugar which may lead to loss of weight, thirst
and passing large quantities or urine (diabetes mellitus)
|
Diet is the cornerstone of treatment, with reduction in
the amount of sugar. This may be supplemented by anti-diabetic tablets
or insulin injections.
|
Male sex hormones
|
Too little
|
Failure of growth and sexual development , in adulthood,
impotence and infertility.
|
Replacement of missing hormones by monthly injections
|
Female sex hormones
|
Too little
|
Failure of growth and sexual development, menstrual
periods do not start. Later in life, menopause (a normal event) due to
reduced hormone levels
|
Replacement of hormones by tablets
|
