[Somatotropic function of the hypophysis in the hypothalamic puberty syndrome]

The STH level was studied in the blood of 105 patients with the hypothalamic pubertal syndrome (HPS). A tendency toward STH hyperproduction was revealed. A comparison of the STH level in the blood and the degree of obesity of the HPS patients showed a clear decrease of the growth hormone in Stage IV obesity. The STH level was almost the same in Stages I, II, III obesity. The STH secretion in the HPS patients correlated with age. The period of disease did not influence hypophysial somatotropic function in the HPS patients. No interrelationship between the content of hydrocortisone and STH in the blood was established. In most of the patients with the HPS, the growth hormone secretion in response to hypoglycemia was undisturbed. Preliminary results obtained with parlodel tests showed an opposite reaction in the HPS patients as compared to healthy ones. Our results confirmed once more that the HPS should not be interpreted as a variant of Icenko-Cushing's syndrome or constitutional obesity in which STH production was lowered.