Increased growth hormone response to clonidine in nonobese normoinsulinemic patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess growth hormone (GH) levels in response to acute clonidine stimulation in nonobese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to patients with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and normal women without hirsutism.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Outpatient clinic, Porto Alegre, Brazil.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with PCOS, 11 women with IH, and 10 age- and weight-matched normal women without hirsutism were studied. All subjects presented normal body mass index (<25 kg/m(2)) and insulin levels (<25 microIU/mL).


METHODS
Growth hormone levels were assessed in all patients before and 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after oral administration of 0.3 mg of clonidine.


METHODS
Growth hormone levels before and after clonidine administration.


RESULTS
Delta GH and GH levels at 30, 60, and 120 minutes were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the IH and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The greater GH response to clonidine in nonobese normoinsulinemic PCOS patients observed in this study suggests a dysregulation in GH secretion in these patients. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of GH in the pathogenesis of PCOS and to investigate the existence of an association between androgens, IGF-I, and GH modulation in PCOS.
Comim
Fábio Vasconcellos
FV
Gynecological Endocrinology Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Spritzer
Poli Mara
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D010060:Ovulation; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D003000:Clonidine