Abstract
Nocturnal GH secretory patterns in response to GHRH (1 ug/kg/3h SC) were studied in 6 GHRH-deficient children. Four received GHRH therapy for at least 6 mo and were studied repeatedly. Two received GHRH every 3h for 24h before and then during testing. During 19 study periods GH rose significantly in response to 66 of 72 GHRH doses (92%) as determined by a regional threshold pulse analysis program. The amplitude varied with time in all subjects during the study periods without relationship to duration of therapy. In the four with multiple studies one GH pulse predominated and occurred at a constant time of day in each individual. Peak GH levels (ng/ml) for one patient are shown (times are of GHRH doses).
The time of greatest response was 0500h in three of the four. No child had a pretreatment dominant pulse at the same time as the one during GHRH therapy. The persistent variability in GH response to multiple equal GHRH doses suggests a SS secretory rhythm. The temporal consistency of maximal GH release to GHRH might reflect that individual's nadir of nocturnal SS secretion. These data suggest that treatment of some GHRH deficient children with a sustained release form of GHRH will result in pulsatile GH secretion.
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Martha, P., Blizzard, R., Pezzoli, S. et al. SOMATOSTATIN (SS) SECRETORY RHYTHM IN GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE (GHRH)–DEFICIEST CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 250 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00499
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00499
