Abstract
Daily subcutaneous (sc) injections (inj) seems now to be the recommended mode of GH administration. A substantial sc degradation of exogenous GH has previously been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of inj volume on the sc absorption rate and bioavailability of GH. Fourteen healthy adults with a median age of 27.5 years and a normal body mass index participated. In a randomized design they all received 3 sc inj of 6 IU biosynthetic human GH (NorditropinR) dissolved in either 0.5, 1.0 or 2 ml respectively. At least one week elapsed between each inj, which was given in the morning (8.00h) after which moderate physical activity was allowed. Blood was sampled hourly for 7 (n=14) to 12 (n=8) hours. The initial absorption rate (2 hour values) tended to be faster with the 2 ml inj volume (P=6.5%). The 2 ml inj volume also yielded the highest mean peak GH values: 23.7 ng/ml (2 ml), 14.7 ng/ml (1 ml) and 16.9 ng/ml (0.5 ml) (P<0.02), as well as the largest area under the curves (8-15 hours): 89.6 ngxhour/ml (2 ml), 62.71 ngxhour/ml (1 ml) and 67.8 ngxhour/ml (P<0.05). We therefore conclude that a large inj volume could imply a more rapid absorption as well as a larger bioavailability of sc inII GH. One could speculate that a rapid sc absorption diminishes the local degradation of GH and thus increases its bioavailability.
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Jørgensen, J., Møller, J., Lauritzen, T. et al. 97 THE ABSORPTION KINETICS OF SUBCUTANEOUSLY ADMINISTERED GRWOTH HORMONE: INFLUENCE OF INJECTION VOLUME. Pediatr Res 24, 533 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00118
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00118