Laron dwarfism: growth and immunoreactive insulin following treatment with human growth hormone.
A 13 1/2-year-old boy with features of growth hormone deficiency had elevated fasting plasma GH levels (5.7 to 66 ng/ml). Serum somatomedin values remained low despite treatment with human growth hormone. Plasma GH values were suppressed following oral administration of glucose and increased following insulin-induced hypoglycemia, L-dopa, and arginine. Chlorpromazine suppressed GH, both fasting and during IIH. These results suggest that the neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating GH secretion seemed to be intact. Peak plasma insulin levels increased in response to glucose administration after HGH suggesting that GH has a direct effect on the pancreatic beta cell which is not mediated by Sm. Plasma testosterone values increased to adult male levels, but there was inadequate secondary sexual response. Growth was enhanced by HGH and may have been due to testosterone and/or insulin. Although Laron dwarfism may result from a receptor defect, an abnormality in GH structure is also possible.
D000293:Adolescent; D000941:Antigens; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000276:immunology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000941:Antigens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013002:Somatomedins; D013739:Testosterone; D013006:Growth Hormone