[Growth hormone and diabetic retinopathy (author's transl)]

Changes in the serum level of growth hormone have been studied in 28 diabetics (6 exhibiting no diabetic retinopathy (d. r.), 10 displaying a non proliferative d. r., 6 having proliferative d. r., and 6 Brittle-diabetes) together with a control group consisting of 11 subjects (5 being totally healthy, and 6 having acromegaly without d. r.). Blood samples were obtained before and after arginine and glucagon administration and also following controlled exercise on the ergometer with 50% of the actual working capacity during 20 minutes. The presence of d. r. and its stage has been determined by fluorescein angiography. Our results demonstrate that an increased secretion of growth hormone in diabetics actually constitutes a manifestation of metabolic instability. Apparantly no correlation exists between the appearance of d. r. or its stage and the degree of growth hormone release.