Premium
Screening test for growth hormone deficiency: Usefulness of L‐dopa‐propranolol provocative test
Author(s) -
LIM Y. J.,
KWAN E.,
LOW L. C. K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1994.tb00656.x
Subject(s) - medicine , propranolol , growth hormone deficiency , growth hormone , insulin tolerance test , test (biology) , hormone , endocrinology , insulin , screening test , pediatrics , insulin resistance , insulin sensitivity , paleontology , biology
This is a retrospective review of 185 short children who were tested for growth hormone (GH) secretion using the L‐dopa‐propranolol provocative test. One hundred and thirty‐three children were deemed to have passed the screening test when a GH concentration of greater than 15 miu/L was elicited after stimulation. Fifty‐two failed the screening test, of which 33 were diagnosed as having growth hormone deficiency (GHD) when they had inadequate growth hormone response to insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia. The other 19 were low‐responders since they showed adequate GH response to insulin tolerance test (ITT). The low‐responder rate to L‐dopa‐propranolol provocative test among short children who are not GH deficient was 12.5%. The low cost of L‐dopa and propranolol, the simplicity and safety of the test, and the acceptable rate of low‐responders make the test an effective screening test for GHD.