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Effect of two consecutive administrations of GHRH in children with constitutional growth delay

A Sartorio1, A Spada, A Conti

  • 1Istituto di Scienze Endocrine, Ospedale Policlinico, Milano, Italy.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Children with constitutional growth delay show normal growth hormone (GH) responses to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation. This suggests their somatotroph sensitivity to GHRH is not impaired.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth Hormone Secretion
  • Neuroendocrinology

Background:

  • Constitutional growth delay (CGD) in children may involve immature neurotransmitter pathways affecting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion.
  • Understanding the somatotroph response to GHRH is crucial for diagnosing growth disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of sequential GHRH administration on growth hormone (GH) secretion in prepubertal boys with CGD.
  • To assess somatotroph sensitivity to GHRH in children with CGD.

Main Methods:

  • Nine prepubertal boys with CGD received two intravenous GHRH boluses (1 microgram/kg each).
  • Growth hormone (GH) levels were measured to calculate the net incremental area under the curve (nAUC).
  • GH responses were compared to those of normal children.

Main Results:

  • GH responses to the first GHRH bolus were comparable between children with CGD (788 +/- 244 ng/ml per hour) and normal children (984 +/- 242 ng/ml per hour).
  • GH responses to the second GHRH bolus were also similar (CGD: 657 +/- 122 vs. normal: 541 +/- 129 ng/ml per hour).

Conclusions:

  • Children with constitutional growth delay exhibit normal somatotroph sensitivity to GHRH.
  • The study indicates no significant abnormalities in the mechanisms controlling GH release in response to GHRH in this population.

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