Growth hormone response patterns in sexually or physically abused boys.
The ratio of growth hormone response to clonidine and L-dopa challenge was compared in 74 boys: 15 with purported physical abuse, 7 with purported sexual abuse, 13 normal controls, and 39 psychiatric controls. Sexually abused boys demonstrate a statistically significant elevated ratio of growth hormone response to clonidine versus response to L-dopa. Physically abused boys demonstrate lower clonidine/L-dopa growth hormone response ratios compared with controls. These effects widen with increasing physical development.
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
J B
JB
Jensen
J J
JJ
Pease
R
R
ten Bensel
B D
BD
Garfinkel
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D003000:Clonidine; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D007980:Levodopa; D008297:Male; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology
D007980:Levodopa; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine