Eur J Endocrinol
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

DOI: 10.1530/eje.0.1420359
European Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 142, Issue 4, 359-364
Copyright © 2000 by European Society of Endocrinology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Achermann, J.
Right arrow Articles by Hindmarsh, P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Achermann, J.
Right arrow Articles by Hindmarsh, P.
Clinical Studies

The GH response to low-dose bolus growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH(1-29)NH2) is attenuated in patients with longstanding post-irradiation GH insufficiency

JC Achermann, CG Brook, and PC Hindmarsh

London Centre for Paediatric Endocrinology, University College London, The Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London W1N 8AA, UK.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have suggested that post-irradiation GH insufficiency results from a loss of GHRH secretion, since many patients were able to release GH following exogenous GHRH stimulation. However, supramaximal doses of GHRH were used and the response may decline with time after radiotherapy. We re-evaluated the GHRH dose-response curve in patients post cranial irradiation and in controls. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. METHODS: Five adult male long-term survivors of childhood brain tumours (median age 21.8 years (18.4-26.7); 13.7 years (11.4-15.7) post-radiotherapy, >30Gy) and five matched controls were studied. An intravenous bolus of GHRH(1-29)NH(2) was administered in doses at the lower (0.05 microg/kg) and upper (0.15 microg/kg) range of the dose-response curves for young males, as well as the standard supramaximal dose (1. 0 microg/kg). GH was measured before stimulation, every 2min for the first hour and every 5min for the second hour. All studies were conducted in a random fashion. RESULTS: Significantly lower peak and area under the curve (AUC) GH concentrations occurred in the irradiated group using 0.15 microg/kg (median peak Irradiated, 4. 5mU/l vs median Controls, 37.4mU/l; P<0.01) and 1.0 microg/kg (median peak Irradiated, 4.8mU/l vs median Controls, 15.2mU/l; P<0. 05) GHRH(1-29)NH(2). In irradiated subjects there was an incremental rise in GH output with increasing doses of GHRH(1-29)NH(2 )(median AUC: 122mU/l.min vs 179mU/l.min vs 268mU/l.min; P=0.007) reflecting altered pituitary sensitivity and reduced responsiveness. CONCLUSION: The GH response to bolus GHRH(1-29)NH(2) is attenuated in adult long-term survivors of childhood brain tumours. This may reflect direct pituitary damage and/or the loss of the tropic effects of chronic GHRH deficiency.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
K. H. Darzy, S. S. Pezzoli, M. O. Thorner, and S. M. Shalet
Cranial Irradiation and Growth Hormone Neurosecretory Dysfunction: A Critical Appraisal
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2007; 92(5): 1666 - 1672.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
K. H. Darzy, S. S. Pezzoli, M. O. Thorner, and S. M. Shalet
The Dynamics of Growth Hormone (GH) Secretion in Adult Cancer Survivors with Severe GH Deficiency Acquired after Brain Irradiation in Childhood for Nonpituitary Brain Tumors: Evidence for Preserved Pulsatility and Diurnal Variation with Increased Secretory Disorderliness
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 2794 - 2803.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2000 European Society of Endocrinology.