title: Simultaneous stimulation of growth hormone, adrenocorticotropin and cortisol with L-dopa/L-carbidopa and propranolol in children of short stature.
abstract: In 59 otherwise healthy children of short stature, the simultaneous response of growth hormone, cortisol and plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) to L-dopa/L-carbidopa and propranolol at 45 and 90 min after administration were investigated. A growth hormone response of 10 microg/l or higher was considered positive. The definition of a positive cortisol response included either a hormone increase of at least 193 nmol/l or a peak hormone level of at least 497 nmol/l. The ACTH increase had to be fourfold above 11 pmol/l to be considered positive. In the 59 investigated children, the median basal growth hormone levels increased from 1.35 microg/l to 18.05 microg/l and 10.15 microg/l at 45 and 90 min after stimulation (p < 0.05). The median cortisol levels rose from 242 nmol/l to 439 nmol/l and 612 pmol/l, and the corresponding median ACTH levels from 2.94 pmol/l to 9.63 pmol/l and 11.13 pmol/l at 45 and 90 min after stimulation. Significant positive hormone response rates were 88.1% for growth hormone, 88.1% for cortisol and 69% for ACTH. These results could be attributed to the enhanced stimulating effect of the additional administration of L-carbidopa and propranolol. We conclude that the administration of L-dopa/L-carbidopa and propranolol is useful for the simultaneous evaluation of growth hormone, cortisol and ACTH secretion in children of short stature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. philippi@kinder.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Philippi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pohlenz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koffler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schönberger
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010901:Pituitary Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D011433:Propranolol; D002230:Carbidopa; D006854:Hydrocortisone