Growth hormone response to guanfacine in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a preliminary study.
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.
Halperin
Jeffrey M
JM
Department of Psychology, Queens College of the City University of New York, New York, New York 11367, USA. jeffery_halperin@qc.edu
Newcorn
Jeffrey H
JH
McKay
Kathleen E
KE
Siever
Larry J
LJ
Sharma
Vanshdeep
V
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
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D016316:Guanfacine