Growth hormone therapy in normal short children induces a transitory decrease in plasma growth hormone releasing hormone levels and in human growth hormone responsiveness to exogenous growth hormone releasing hormone.
A three-month study of the effect of growth hormone (hGH) therapy (0.1 U/kg/day sc) on plasma levels of GH releasing hormone (GHRH), somatostatin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and on the hGH responsiveness to exogenous GHRH was carried out in 32 prepubertal short-stature children with normal GH secretion. Blood samples were collected prior to initiation of therapy, and at 5, 30 and 90 days of onset of therapy, as well as 2 and 90 days after termination of therapy. The nonconventional hGH therapy induced an increase in serum IGF-I levels which lasted as long as therapy was continued. Plasma GHRH levels showed an early transitory decrease after five days of therapy, whereas plasma somatostatin levels were unaltered. A slight suppression in hGH responsiveness to exogenous GHRH was found at 2 but not at 90 days after termination of hGH therapy. It is concluded that nonconventional hGH treatment does not cause permanent changes in physiological hGH secretion.
Gil-Ad
I
I
Institute of Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Klinger
B
B
Pertzelan
A
A
Erster
B
B
Silbergeld
A
A
Talpaz
H
H
Laron
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013004:Somatostatin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone