Growth hormone response to clonidine in anovulatory infertile women resistant to clomiphene citrate stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the GH response to the clonidine test in a group of infertile women and to determine their ovulatory response to clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulation.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Reproductive endocrinology unit.


METHODS
Thirty-three anovulatory infertile women (age range, 25-36 years) and 9 healthy controls with normal ovulation.


METHODS
In the early follicular phase, 0.3 mg of clonidine was administered between 8:30 and 9:00 A.M. and blood samples were collected for 120 minutes thereafter for measurement of serum GH levels. Plasma levels of insulin and glucose were measured after a 75-g glucose load, and CC was given at a dosage of 50-250 mg/d for ovulation-induction.


METHODS
Serum concentrations of GH, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1.


RESULTS
On the basis of their ovulatory response to CC, 15 patients were considered nonresponsive (group 1) and 18 patients were considered responsive (group 2). Baseline levels of GH, insulin-like growth factor I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 were similar in the two groups of patients and the controls. The GH response to clonidine was significantly greater in group 2 and in the controls than in group 1. Concentrations of insulin and glucose after the glucose load were not different among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Women who were resistant to CC had a reduced GH response to clonidine. These data suggest that adequate GH secretory capacity is important for CC action.
Rossato
P
P
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, and University of Genova, Italy.
Minuto
F
F
Garrone
S
S
Ragni
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003000:Clonidine; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D007328:Insulin; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D002996:Clomiphene; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D003000:Clonidine