Abstract
There is not agreement on which is the most useful and reproducible test to diagnose GH deficiency. To asses the degree of reproductiveness of physiological and pharmacological test we studied 15 prepuberal childre(14 ♂: l♀;CA (X±SD) 10.5±2.0 years; BA 7.75±2.3 years with short stature(Height SDS -1.9to -3.6) and abnormal growth rate. In all children spontaneous overninght GH secretion (SGH)was performed, followed by clonidine test(Clo)in 8 children and arginine test(Arg)in 7. The same protocol was repeated a week later, GH was measured by RIA. Variability was expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV) of all repeated tests. Results: CV for mean SGH were significantly lower than those for Clo and Arg (p<0.02). No significant difference was found between the CV of both pharmacological tests. For the same patients correlation between CV of Clo/Arg and CV of SGH could not be found. GH response to Clo or Arg was always ≥10 ng/ml in 5 children (Group A), 6 children had a GH response ≥10 ng/ml only in one test (Group B variable responses) and 4 children did not respond to pharmacological repeated tests (Group C). Thirteen out of 15 patients had mean values for SGH >2.5ng/ml in both oportunities(5 of GA;5 of GB and 3 GC).1 patient showed values <2.5 ng /ml in two ocassions (GC) and 1 had variable means of SGH (GB).
Conclusions: This study shows that SGH is most reproducible test. The lack of correlation between CV indicates that variability may be characteistic of each test. Normality of the GH secretory status could not be stablished with the tests used.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ropelato, G., Martinez, A., Heinrich, J. et al. 30 COMPARISON AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) SECRETION TESTS. Pediatr Res 36, 677 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00054
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00054