J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  1998 Mar;13(1):16-23.

Relationship between the Physiologic Night-Times surge and the Stimulated Peak Growth Hormome Levels in the Growth Hormone Deficiency Suspicious Children

• Oh PS
• Shin JH
• Cha JK
• Kim KJ

Abstract

Nowadays, to evaluate growth hormone(GH) deficiency-suspicious short stature, we usually use more than two kinds of provocative tests using various pharmacologic agents such as clonodine, L-dopa, insulin, etc. However, the importance of physiologic natural secretion of GH was recently approved. In the past, diagnosis of GH neurosecretory dysfunction was made by studying the 24-hour spantaneous GH secretion profile. But, because it is very clinically difficult, and so we measured and evaluated the mean GH concentrations of blood samples, obtained every 30 minutes during the first 3 hours' nocturnal sleep, instead of that. At the department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Hospital from November, 1992 to February, 1994, we selected 34 GH deficiency-suspected children on the base of their growth data and bone age, etc. After GH stimulation with clonidine(100-150 ug/m2) and L-dopa(200-250 mg/m2), we measured their peak GH values by the immunoradiometric assay(IRMA) kit. And, we measured the mean GH concentrations of blood samples, obtained every 30 minutes during the first 3 hours noctumal sleep(22:OOPM-1:OOAM).
RESULTS
1. We analyzed the relationship between the mean of 3-hours' physiologic night-time surge of GH(X) and the phamacologically stimulated peak GH level(Y), except for the two neurosecretory dysfunction suspicious children. And so, for the 32 children, the relationship was Y=1.806X+ 3.177, r= 0.794, p<0.01. However, for all the tested children(34), the relationship is Y=1.709X+ 4.06, r=0.737, p<0.01. 2. We analyzed the relationship between the peak of 3-hours' physiologic night-time surge of GH(X) and the phamacologicaUy stimulated peak GH level(Y), except for the two neurosecretory dysfunction suspieious children. And so, for the 32 children, the relationship was Y=0.683X+ 3.686, r=737, p<0.01.
CONCLUSION
For all the tested children(34), the relationship between the mean 3hr physiologic GH night time surge and stimulated peak GH value is Y=1.709X+4.06, r=0.737, p<0.01. The percentage of GH neurosecretory dysfunction is 5.8%(2/34). And, except for the two childrren, the relationship is more good, Y=1.806X+3.177, r=0,794, p<0.01. On the above relationship, the 3-hour GH night time-surge test might to give us some helpful information for the diagnosis of neurosecretory dysfunction.

MeSH Terms

Child*
Diagnosis
Growth Hormone*
Humans
Insulin
Levodopa
Pediatrics
Growth Hormone
Insulin
Levodopa