Abstract
From studies of exercise induced GH secretion, HANSEN (Scand.J. Clin.Lab.Invest. 28, 195, 1971) and PASSA et al (Lancet ii, 72, 1974) concluded that GH hypersecretion was frequent in J.Dbt and was a possible etiological factor of diabetic retinopathy. To further investigate the role of GH in J.Dbt, blood glucose (BG) and plasma GH were determined during controled exercise performed 1rst in basal condition, 2nd under glucose infusion in 7 controls and 15 J.Dbt aging 12 to 30 years, 4 of them having a retinopathy. All diabetics received their daily insulin injection. None were ketotic during the study.
Before exercise the J.Dbt had GH levels higher than normal. During both tests, when compared with control values, the pattern of GH rise appeared to be different in the J.Dbt. with BG lower or in the same range than the controls, and in the J.Dbt with abnormally high BG: in basal condition significantly higher GH rise (p<0,05) were found only in the J.Dbt with normal or low BG. Glucose infusion blocked the GH rise in the controls and in the hyperglycemic J.Dbt but did not in those with BG curves similar to the controls. The 4 patients with retinopathy figured in the hyperglycemic groups and showed an exercise induced GH rise similar to the controls.
This study confirmed that GH hypersecretion is present in J.Dbt; however, it gives no evidence that GH hypersecretion is a factor contributing to diabetic retinopathy.
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Locard, E., David, L., Ruitton, A. et al. STUDIES OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) SECRETION IN JUVENILE DIABETES (J.Dbt). Pediatr Res 9, 671 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00043