Abstract
Girls with idiopathic scoliosis are taller and thinner than comparable nonscoliotic controls. The difference may be related to the growth hormone (GH) and for this reason GH was determined in plasma by double antibody radioimmurioassay under the following conditions: 1. insulin hypoglycemia, 2. glucose tolerance test, 3. exercise. After overnight fasting and after at least 1 hour of rest the basal GH level was 9.8±11.1 (±SD)ng/ml in the scoliotic girls (n=48) and 2.2±1.1 ng/ml in the controls (n=15). The difference is significant. In the insulin hypoglycemia test the peak GH value was 33.2±19.1 ng/ml in the scoliotic girls (n=27) and 20.8±8.3 ng/ml in the controls (n=8). This difference is, however, not significant. In the exercise test the maximal value was observed at different times after the start of the test: at 20 minutes in the scoliotic girls (n=l4, GH 17.3 ± 11.8 ng/ml) and at 40 minutes in the controls (n=9, GH 16.0±6.6 ng/ml). In the glucose tolerance test the GH levels was suppressed in both groups but the mean GH levels tended to be higher during the first 120 minutes of the test in the scoliotic girls. The observed differences in the growth hormone response during the various tests, including statistically significantly higher basal values, could indicate an increased GH secretion in idiopathic scoliosis.
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Willner, S., Nilsson, K. & Bergstrand, C. PLASMA GROWTH HORMONE LEVELS IN GIRLS WITH ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS. Pediatr Res 9, 690 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00141
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00141