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Growth hormone release in normal children after oral clonidine 4 micrograms/kg
Insights
Oral clonidine at 4 micrograms/kg effectively stimulates growth hormone (GH) release in children. This safe and potent method provides reliable results for GH provocation testing.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growth hormone (GH) deficiency can impact childhood development.
- Accurate assessment of GH secretion is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral clonidine as a GH provocative agent in healthy children.
- To determine the optimal dosage and timing for clonidine-induced GH release.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 32 healthy children received an oral dose of 4 micrograms/kg of clonidine after overnight fasting.
- Plasma GH levels were measured at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post-ingestion.
- Adverse effects were monitored throughout the study.
Main Results:
- Oral clonidine administration resulted in a significant increase in plasma GH levels.
- The mean peak GH response ranged from 18.7 to 67.3 ng/ml, predominantly observed at 90 minutes.
- No serious adverse events were reported during the study.
Conclusions:
- Oral clonidine at a dose of 4 micrograms/kg is a safe and effective stimulant for GH release in children.
- Clonidine provides reliable and satisfactory results for GH provocation testing.
- This method offers a valuable tool for pediatric endocrinology assessments.
Abstract:
Oral clonidine 4 micrograms/kg was given to 32 normal children, 18 males and 14 females with the mean age of 8.44 +/- 3.18 years. All were healthy and had normal growth. They were fasted overnight and throughout the test. Blood specimens were taken in the morning at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after clonidine ingestion. The mean basal plasma GH level was 1.81 +/- 2.07 ng/ml. The range of peak GH response was 18.7-67.3 ng/ml mostly at 90 minutes after clonidine with the mean value of 30.92 +/- 10.97 ng/ml. There were no serious undesired effects. It is concluded that with the oral dose of 4 micrograms/kg, clonidine is a safe and potent GH provocative agent with reliable and satisfactory results.