title: Growth hormone response to guanfacine in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This preliminary study evaluated a method for assessing central noradrenergic function in children via the growth hormone response to a single dose of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist guanfacine and examined whether this measure distinguishes between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) boys with and without reading disabilities (RD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma growth hormone was assessed before and after the oral administration of guanfacine and placebo in boys with ADHD who were divided into subgroups based on the presence (n = 3) or absence (n = 5) of RD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Guanfacine and placebo conditions did not differ at baseline, but peak growth hormone was significantly higher following guanfacine. The increase in growth hormone following guanfacine was significantly greater in boys without RD as compared to those with RD, with no overlap between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with findings using peripheral measures of noradrenergic function, these preliminary data suggest that ADHD boys with and without RD may differ in central noradrenergic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Queens College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 11367, USA. jeffery_halperin@qc.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Halperin
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Newcorn
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Siever
authors.forename: Vanshdeep
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D016316:Guanfacine