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THE EFFECT OF L‐DOPA ON THE BLOOD CONCENTRATIONS OF GROWTH HORMONE, THYROTROPHIN, GONADOTROPHINS, CORTISOL AND GLUCOSE IN CHILDREN WITH SHORT STATURE
Author(s) -
NILSSON K. O.,
THORELL J. I.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1974.tb04869.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , insulin , hypoglycemia , growth hormone , hormone , short stature , stimulation , hydrocortisone
. Nilsson, K. O. and Thorell, J. I. (Department of Paediatrics, Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, University Clinics, Malmö General Hospital, Malmö, Sweden). The effect of L‐dopa on the blood concentrations of growth hormone, thyro‐trophin, gonadotrophins, cortisol and glucose in children with short stature. Acta Paediatr Scand, 63: 812, 1974.—Studies were performed in nine constitutionally short children to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of oral L‐dopa as compaired to insulin induced hypoglycemia as a provocative agent for the stimulation of growth hormone production. In addition the effect of L‐dopa on the blood concentrations of thyro‐trophin, gonadotrophins, cortisol and glucose was investigated. The mean growth hormone concentration was 4.8±1.6 (S.E.M.) ng/ml before L‐dopa and 2.9±1.0 ng/ml before insulin. The mean peak growth hormone concentration was 20.7±2.6 ng/ml after L‐dopa and 17.5±3.1 ng/ml during insulin induced hypoglycemia. AU children showed peak growth hormone concentrations at or above 8 ng/ml both after L‐dopa and insulin, although in one patient this level was reached only after priming with testosterone. No significant changes in the blood concentrations of thyrotrophin, gonadotrophins, cortisol or glucose were observed. It is concluded that L‐dopa is an effective stimulus for the release of growth hormone in young subjects.