title: [Somatotropic hormone].
abstract: A dosage of the somatotrope hormone (HGH) is carried out whenever a deficiency or excess in hormone secretion is suspected. An  insufficient hormone production is one of the causes of hypophysary nanism; a series of tests must be carried out, however, before dosing the hormone, in order to ascertain whether other growth-retarding factors are present. This dosage must be carried out not only in fasting conditions, in order to know the basal value of the hormone, but also in stimulation conditions. The laboratory data obtained in the different tests must be carefully evaluated and compared with the clinical data. It is thus possible to ascertain, for instance, whether a hypophysary nanism is induced by a peripheral resistance as well as by a deficient secretion. The HGH therapy is effective only in the cases of  nanism induced by a deficient somatotropine secretion. This hormone is still seldom available. A reliable diagnosis of the type of hypophysary nanism is therefore deemed necessary.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004393:Dwarfism, Pituitary / Q000097:blood; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D013006:Growth Hormone
vernacular_title: Ormone somatotropo