Elevated growth hormone levels in patients with non-alcoholic chronic liver disease

High serum concentrations of growth hormone (GH) were found in five patients with chronic liver diseases, including auto-immune chronic active hepatitis (two cases), Budd-Chiari syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis B virus associated cirrhosis. Mean levels of GH were 27.8 units (normal up to 5). In three patients elevated prolactin levels were also found (mean 37.3 units for two females, normal up to 20), and 36 units in one male (normal up to 9). No other endocrine disorders were found. Although the association of raised GH levels in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis is well known, its occurrence in patients with non-alcoholic chronic liver disease is not fully established. We describe the effect of the disease course, and steroid treatment on GH levels in one patient with auto-immune chronic active hepatitis, and propose possible mechanisms for this elevation.