title: Disordered growth hormone and prolactin secretion in primary disorders of sleep.
abstract: Growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PR) secretion were evaluated in 28 patients who had sleep apnea or narcolepsy but no other primary neurologic or endocrine disorders. Eighty-one percent of subjects with impaired alertness failed to demonstrate serum GH concentrations in excess of 5 ng per milliliter following oral administration of L-DOPA, 500 mg. Diminished GH responses to sleep and intravenous arginine were observed in 57 percent and 44 percent, respectively, of patients tested. Sleep-related PRL release was less than normal in women with narcolepsy, with or without sleep apnea. All patients had at least one abnormality in GH or PRL secretion.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001049:Apnea / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001120:Arginine