Abstract
To determine whether a correlation exists between height and the quantity of growth hormone (GH) secreted during physiologic conditions, we measured 24-hr GH concentration (GHC) in 29 non-obese, normal statured subjects, 16 males, 13 females, 7-18 yrs. Results (mean ± SE) are indicated in Table.
SDS*, standard deviation score
The data indicates that in normal statured subjects, 1) 24-hr GHC ranges from 2.1 to 6.2ng/ml, which overlaps with values reported in hypopituitarism, 2) GHC during sleep is significantly greater than during wakeful hrs and correlates well with 24-hr GHC (p<.01) 3) The puberty associated increase in 24-hr GHC results from an increase in GHC during wakeful hrs, 4) GHC does not correlate with height(SDS), age, SmC or midparental height, but correlates inversely with weight(SDS) and bone age in pubertal subjects only and 5) SmC correlates with age, bone age and sexual stage (p<.01).
IN CONCLUSION: In normally growing subjects, stature does not appear to be determined by the amount of GH or SmC, but by genetic influences, including perhaps responsiveness to growth factors. Further, GH deficiency cannot be diagnosed solely by 24-hr GHC.
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Costin, G., Kaufman, F. & Brasel, J. GROWTH HORMONE SECRETORY PATTERNS IN NORMAL STATURED SUBJECTS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 246 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00473
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00473