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Diagnostic value of the growth hormone—releasing factor stimulation test
Author(s) -
Albini Christine H,
Reiter Edward O,
Mills Barbara J,
MacGillivray Margaret H
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.1988.98
Subject(s) - medicine , stimulation , endocrinology , analysis of variance , growth hormone deficiency , hormone , growth hormone
Growth hormone (GH) responses to growth hormone‐releasing factor (GRF) were evaluated in 55 children with growth failure. The study groups consisted of group 1, severe GH deficiency; group 2, partial GH deficiency; group 3, patients with prior cranial radiation for nonpituitary brain tumors; and group 4, children with idiopathic growth failure. Children in group 1 were unresponsive to GRF (mean GH peak ± SEM, 1.6 ± 0.5 ng/ml). Higher GH responses to GRF were observed in both groups 2 (17.2 ± 4.1 ng/ml) and 3 (10.4 ± 2.8 ng/ml). The highest GH responses to GRF were observed in group 4 (35.9 ± 4.3 ng/ml). ANOVA revealed a significant difference between groups (F = 12.9; df = 3; p < 0.01), and further analysis by the Scheffe and Student‐Newman‐Keuls tests revealed that group 4 was significantly higher than groups 1, 2, or 3 ( p < 0.05). These data suggest that GRF unresponsiveness is a reliable predictor of severe GH deficiency. In patients with partial GH deficiency or idiopathic growth failure, the GRF gives semiquantitative information about somatotrope responsivity to exogenous stimulation. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1988) 43 , 696–700; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1988.98