GHRH-test in short children with "non classic" GH deficiency. A comparison with "classic" GH deficiency and short normal stature.
In this study GHRH-test has been performed (2 micrograms/Kg of an iv bolus of GHRH 1-44) sampling for GH measurement every 15 min over 2 hours in three groups of short children. Group 1 consisted of 10 subjects with classic GH deficiency (CGHD): GH response less than 10 ng/ml to two conventional tests and 24-h mean GH concentration (MGHC) less than 3 ng/ml; group 2 consisted of 16 subjects with non-classic GH deficiency (NCGHD): response greater than 10 ng/ml to at least one conventional test and MGHC less than 3 ng/ml; group 3 consisted of 18 subjects with short normal stature: GH response greater than 10 ng/ml to at least one conventional test and MGHC greater than 3 ng/ml. GH peak and area under the curve (AUC) values were significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3 and in group 2 than group 3. GH peak and AUC values statistically correlated with height, height velocity, bone age/chronological age ratio and MGHC. Six children in group 1, 14 children in group 2 and all 18 children in group 3 showed after GHRH a GH peak greater than 10 ng/ml and were considered as 'responders'. Considering only the responders, GH peak and AUC values were significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3 and in group 2 than group 3. In conclusion, our data have shown that 87% of children with NCGHD responded to a single bolus of GHRH with an increase in GH levels greater than 10 ng/ml and that their responses were intermediate compared to those of CGHD and short normal subjects.
Saggese
G
G
Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Pisa, Italy.
Cesaretti
G
G
Giannessi
N
N
Cinquanta
L
L
Bracaloni
C
C
Cioni
C
C
Di Spigno
G
G
Di Porto
R
R
D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects
D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone