Altered immunologic function and nitrogen metabolism associated with depression of plasma growth hormone

The specific role of endogenous growth hormone in regulating nitrogen metabolism during surgical stress and infection remains unclear. We have studied splanchnic amino acid uptake and plasma concentrations in patient groups exhibiting growth hormone hypersecretion or relative growth hormone depression in response to stress. Splanchnic amino acid uptake was similar in both groups although plasma levels were significantly higher in the presence of depressed growth hormone production suggesting increased net peripheral proteolysis. In association with this latter observation. T lymphocyte subset analysis revealed a greater incidence of depressed helper to suppressor cell ratios in the presence of depressed growth hormone suggesting a greater impairment of cellular immunity.