[Effect of human growth hormone on nitrogen retention]

A 13-year-old female, suffering from chronic juvenile arthritis, whose disease and medication had caused a severe catabolic state, was alimented orally and parenterally for a 32-day period. The influence of an intravenous supplement of arginine to stimulate endogenous human growth hormone (HGH) secretion, e.g. 4 U HGH/day, on nitrogen retention was studied. The administered amount of arginine (16 g/day) was not sufficient to cause an increase of either the serum HGH concentration or the nitrogen retention whereas nitrogen retention increased dramatically after the daily administration of 4 U HGH.