Appropriate management of growth hormone deficiency during the age of transition: an Italian Delphi consensus statement

A Delphi consensus study was conducted between July 2020 and July 2021, involving Italian endocrinologists. Members of the scientific board (the authors of this article) identified four topics of interest and formulated statements around those topics based on available evidence. The topics were as follows: (1) Definition of transition age, diagnosis of GHD in transition-age patients and the role of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and other pituitary deficiencies; (2) Benefits of rhGH treatment during the transition (including improvements in lipid, glucose, bone and body composition); (3) Clinical monitoring of transition-age patients to check for development of pituitary deficiencies and adherence, joint management by paediatric endocrinologists and transitionphase endocrinologists, and psychological aspects of care for patients during the transition age; and (4) Continuum of care during the transition, safety issues and new developments.