Growth hormone responses to growth hormone releasing factor in primary degenerative dementia.
The growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin (PRL) responses to growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) were investigated in 18 patients suffering from primary degenerative dementia (PDD) and in 20 age- and sex-matched normal elderly controls. There was no significant difference in the growth hormone response to GRF stimulation between patients and controls, and in neither subject group was there a demonstrable TSH or prolactin response to GRF. These findings indicate that the pathophysiology underlying the blunted growth hormone response to pharmacological challenge in PDD must lie at a suprapituitary level.
Thomas
R
R
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
Williams
P
P
John
R
R
Scanlon
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011388:Prolactin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine