Inappropriate growth-hormone (GH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) occurs infrequently in well-regulated diabetes mellitus.
We randomly administered thyrotropin-releasing hormone (200 micrograms, as an i.v. bolus) or control saline (in isovolumic amount) to 30 male diabetic subjects (23 IDDM, 7 NIDDM) in fair metabolic control (HbA1 9.7 +/- 0.3%, means +/- SEM) and to 12 healthy male controls on two different mornings. While GH in the basal state was similar in IDDM, NIDDM and normal subjects, TRH administration evoked a significant GH release only in a single IDDM individual. The only GH-responder to TRH was a newly-diagnosed (two weeks) IDDM patient, still with a high glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1 11.1%), despite normal plasma glucose levels. Saline infusion did not affect GH concentrations either in normals or in diabetics. Exaggerated GH responses to TRH are uncommon in diabetic patients in good metabolic conditions.
Giampietro
O
O
Cattedra di Malattie del Metabolismo, Università di Pisa, Italy.
Ferdeghini
M
M
Miccoli
R
R
Gregori
G
G
Penno
G
G
Bertoli
S
S
Navalesi
R
R
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone