Growth hormone secretion in empty sella syndrome.
GH secretion was studied in 47 patients with empty sella syndrome (ESS), using the GH response to the L-dopa test and determinations of the somatomedin levels. A high frequency of low responders (56%) was found, which is in accordance with previous reports on ESS. However, a true GH deficiency as judged by low levels of somatomedin A, was suspected in only 2 out of 41 patients with otherwise normal pituitary function and in 5 out of 6 patients with other pituitary insufficiences. The impaired GH responsiveness in the remaining patients seemed to be attributed to their overweight and/or postmenopausal age (estrogen deficiency) and not to a true GH deficiency, which was excluded by normal levels of somatomedin.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004652:Empty Sella Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D013002:Somatomedins; D007980:Levodopa; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D013006:Growth Hormone