title: Growth hormone response to clonidine in obese children.
abstract: Basal and stimulated serum growth hormone (GH) levels after exercise, insulin induced hypoglycemia (IIH) and oral clonidine were evaluated in 20 (16 M, 4 F) normal statured obese (body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg/M2) children. Basal serum GH levels (mean +/- SEM, 2.0 +/- 0.38 ng/ml) were not different from basal levels in non-obese children. The mean peak levels were 3.16 +/- 1.17 ng/ml, 2.15 +/- 0.36 ng/ml and 3.15 +/- 1.12 ng/ml (+/- SEM) after exercise, IIH and oral clonidine, respectively. The positive responses (peak level of serum GH greater than 7 ng/ml) were seen in 10% with exercise, in 10% with clonidine and in none with IIH test. These observations suggest that GH response to oral clonidine is subnormal in obese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine