[HGH response to dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) (author's transl)]

L-dopa, administered at dose levels of 250 mg., was used to assess HGH release in 36 children. In five cases of hypopituitary dwarfs no response was obtained and in the remaining 31 cases affected by short stature not of endocrine origin, the highest peak was produced 30' after the test (12.71 +/- 11.61 ng/ml; p less than 0.0005). Significant responses were also obtained at 60' (11.81 +/- 10.47 ng/ml; p less than 0.0005), 90' (7.25 +/- 7.49 ng/ml; p less than 0.0005) and 120' (4.8 +/- 4.86 ng/ml; p less than 0.005).