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RESPONSES TO ANALOGUES OF GROWTH HORMONE‐RELEASING HORMONE IN NORMAL SUBJECTS, AND IN GROWTH‐HORMONE DEFICIENT CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Author(s) -
GROSSMAN A.,
SAVAGE M. O.,
LYTRAS N.,
PREECE M. A.,
SUEIRASDIAZ J.,
COY D. H.,
REES LESLEY H.,
BESSER G. M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1984.tb03477.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , growth hormone–releasing hormone , hormone , growth hormone , bolus (digestion) , growth hormone deficiency , hypothalamus
SUMMARY Three analogues of growth hormone‐releasing hormone (GHRH) have been compared in normal subjects. GHRH(1‐29)NH 2 is equipotent to GHRH(1‐40); increasing doses from 10‐200 per subject augments the duration of stimulated growth hormone (GH) release, but the peak serum GH shows only a poor correlation with dose. The derivative D‐Ala 2 ‐GHRH(1‐29)NH 2 is no more potent than the unsubstituted GHRH(1‐29)NH 2 . In 20 children and young adults with growth hormone deficiency by conventional criteria, eight showed normal or only slightly subnormal peak serum GH responses to GHRH(1‐40) or GHRH(1‐29)NH 2 . These included two patients with tumours of the hypothalamus, as well as six with idiopathic isolated growth hormone deficiency or panhypopituitarism. A poor response to GHRH was generally seen in patients on long‐term GH therapy. Priming with GHRH, in either a single bolus or a continuous infusion, did not increase the GH response to GHRH. It is concluded that GHRH(1‐29)NH 2 is a useful analogue in the testing of GH reserve in patients with growth hormone deficiency, and has considerable potential for long‐term therapy.