Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment potentiates growth hormone (GH) response to growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation in hemodialysis patients.
On the basis of previously described effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment on endocrine abnormalities present in uremia, we assessed the possible effect of treatment with rhEPO on growth hormone (GH) response to growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) in a group of uremic patients. Eight patients on maintenance hemodialysis for 12 to 228 months, not previously treated with rhEPO, were tested with 100 micrograms of GHRH i.v. in bolus before and after three months of rhEPO treatment (40 U/kg i.v. three times a week). Before treatment, the GH response to GHRH was characterized, in uremic patients, by remarkable differences in plasma GH values and in the pattern of response curve in single patients. The variability of GH response was not modified after rhEPO treatment; however, an overall potentiation of GH response with a significant increase of plasma GH (p = 0.017 at 15 min, p = 0.035 at 30 min after GHRH injection) was observed in the tests performed after treatment. rhEPO administration induced an evident improvement of anemia, blood hemoglobin concentration being 5.3-7.6 g/dl before and 9.1-11.3 g/dl after treatment; however a demonstrable correlation between the potentiation of GH response to GHRH and the increase of hemoglobin concentration was not observed.
Institute of Internal Medicine, Immunopathology and Infectious Diseases, University of Milan, Italy.
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L
Cremagnani
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Cantalamessa
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A
Orsatti
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L
Vigna
F
F
Vallino
G
G
Buccianti
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013997:Time Factors
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone