title: Growth hormone stimulation tests in the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder whose differential diagnosis from other forms of atypical parkinsonism, for instance multiple system atrophy (MSA) or progressive supranuclear palsy, may be difficult, especially in the early stages. Growth hormone stimulation tests have been recently reported to be useful in the differential diagnosis between IPD and MSA. Both clonidine, an alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, and arginine, an amino acid activating the cholinergic system, have been used to assess growth hormone response in patients with IPD and MSA. This review summarizes the results of several studies and discusses the validity of these tests in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. pellec3@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pellecchia
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pivonello
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barone
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001120:Arginine; D003000:Clonidine