The "Transition Age" Management
A major focus in 2026 is the Transition Age—the period when a pediatric patient reaches near-adult height. In Italy, patients are not simply taken off medication; they undergo a re-evaluation to determine if the GHD is permanent.
According to the latest Italian Delphi consensus, the transition is managed by a multidisciplinary team of pediatric and adult endocrinologists. Patients with organic GHD (caused by structural brain defects or tumors) often continue therapy to support metabolic health, bone density, and muscle mass, even after they have finished growing. For those with idiopathic (unknown cause) GHD, a "washout" period is followed by a re-test; if the body now produces enough GH, therapy is safely discontinued.
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