Rapid effect of intravenous growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone 1–44 on plasma GH levels in children

✍ Scribed by R. Rosskamp; F. Haverkamp

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1988
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 205 KB
• Volume: 148
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0340-6997
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00441805

✦ Synopsis

Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)-testing was performed in 24 short normal children (16 male, 8 female). Before and after administration of GHRH~_44 (1 ~tg/ kg body weight i.v.) blood samples for growth hormone (GH) determination were drawn at -30, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 rain. Plasma GH increase was apparent 1rain after injection and in 12 patients (7 female) peak plasma GH values were reached within 15 rain. In all patients plasma GH levels were greater than 10 ng/ml within the first 8 min following GHRH injection, but in 4 patients this level was not attained when considering only GH values obtained after 15 min. These results demonstrate the capability of the pituitary to rapidly secrete GH in response to GHRH~_44 in children. Therefore, in this age group blood samples for GH determination should be taken earlier when testing with GHRHl_44.