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Pyridostigmine fails to increase either spontaneous or GHRH‐stimulated GH secretion during day or night in growth hormone‐insufficient children
Author(s) -
Kirk J. M. W.,
Ross R. J. M.,
Trainer P. J.,
Froud A. L. J.,
Davies S. C.,
Savage M. O.,
Besser G. M.
Publication year - 1991
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.1365-2265.1991.tb00313.x
Subject(s) - pyridostigmine , endocrinology , medicine , somatostatin , cholinesterase , placebo , pyridostigmine bromide , hypothalamus , myasthenia gravis , alternative medicine , pathology
Summaryobjective The aim of the study was to Investigate whether pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase Inhibitor which is thought to act at the hypothalamus to Inhibit somatostatin secretion, would augment spontaneous or GHRH‐stimulated serum GH levels In patients with GH‐insufficiency. DESIGN Oral pyridostigmine 60 mg or placebo was administered at the start of a 9‐h subcutaneous infusion of either GHRH (1–29)NH 2 10 μg/kg/h or saline control. Studies were performed during the daytime (0900–1800 h) in five patients, and the night‐time (2100–0600 h) In a further five.patients Ten short, pre‐pubertal children (aged 6–11 years; eight boys) with growth hormone Insufficiency were studied.measures Blood for serum GH was sampled every 20 min, and analysed using the PULSAR program.results The subcutaneous infusion of GHRH 10 μg/kg/h Increased mean serum GH levels (± SEM): by day 17.7(±6.8) vs placebo 2.2(±0.4) mU/I ( p >0.01), and by night 26.9(± 3.3) vs 5.5(± 1.3) mU/I ( p > 0.05). There was a significant rise In mean ‘baseline’ GH concentration: by day 5.5(±1.7) vs 1.0(±0.0) mU/I ( p >0.05); and night 8.2(±2.7) vs 1.3(±0.3) mU/I ( p >0.05). Pyridostigmine failed to produce a significant overall increase In either spontaneous or GHRH‐stimulated GH secretion by day or night, although there was a significant rise In mean GH levels during the 3 h following pyridostigmine administration In the morning: 4.4(±1.1) vs 2.4(±0.5) mU/I ( p >0.001). GHRH or pyridostigmine given singly or in combination had no significant effect on the number of pulses. Side‐effects attributable to pyridostigmine occurred in seven children.conclusions Pyridostigmine, either on Its own or as an adjuvant therapy In combination with GHRH, acts for only a brief time and does not offer any potential benefit In the management of children with short stature.