Abstract
It has been reported that the half life (HL) and MCR of endogenous GH is similar in normal male and female adults and in normal children and that children with short stature without GH deficiency (ST) show no differences. To reevaluate these studies, HL and MCR of GH were studied after a GH-RH bolus in 8 prepubertal children with idiopathic ST, chronological age (X±SD) 11.3±2.75 years (y), bone age 8.75 ± 2.76 y and height SDS -3.14 ± 0.77, and in 14 normal adults (c). After overnight fasting, GH secretion was stimulated with a single dose of 3 ug/Kg(iv) of GH-RH followed by 250 ug of somatostatin(S) 30 min later. Three basal samples, were obtained at 15 minutes intervals and, after GH-RH, samples were collected every 5 min for 90 min. GH HL was calculated monoexponentially after S injection from at least 3 descending values. Basal GH levels were similar in ST and C (2.66 ± 1.66 and 3.62 ± 5.35 ug/ml) HL in ST (24.0 ± 8.12 min) was significantly longer than in C (16.6 ± 4.41, p < 0.02) and MCR in BT (2.62 ± 0.76 ml/min.Kg) significantly lower than in C (3.73 ± 1.01. p < 0.02). The data suggest that in prepubertal children with ST, GH clearance would be slower than in normal children. According to these findings, after each secretory pulse in vivo, GH probably enters into target cells at a rate slower than in children with ST.
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Ciaccio, M., Charler, E., Maceiras, M. et al. 29 HALF LIFE AND METABOLIC CLEARANCE RATE (MCR) OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) AFTER GH-RH IN PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN WITH SHORT STATURE. Pediatr Res 36, 677 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00053
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199411000-00053