Abstract
Clonidine, a presumed α2 agonist, is a potent stimulus for GH in man and gonadotropins in rodents. To assess the acute and chronic effects of this drug on GH and gonadotropins in adolescents, we studied 4 boys in early to mid-puberty, sampling blood every 15-20 min for LH and FSH (x ± SE mIU/ml) and hourly for GH, before and after one or two oral 0.15mg/m2 doses of clonidine. (*=p < .05 vs control):
Clonidine had no effect on LH pulse frequency or the circadian pattern of LH, FSH or GH secretion. It was consistently followed within 2h by a GH peak comparable to the spontaneous pulses. This effect on GH was maintained in pt. #4 after chronic therapy. We conclude: 1) clonidine has a modest effect, if any, on gonadotropins at this stage of human puberty; 2) growth should be followed closely in adolescents on clonidine therapy.
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Khoury, S., Sauder, S., Hale, P. et al. 30 ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS OF CLONIDINE ON GROWTH HORMONE AND GONADOTROPIN SECRETION IN ADOLESCENT BOYS. Pediatr Res 19, 608 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00050
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00050