Growth hormone neurosecretory disfunction in major depressive illness.

Neurotransmitter impairments in MDI can also affect hormonal neuroregulation. Therefore, we decided to study the integrated concentration of growth hormone (IC-GH) and its 24-h secretory profile in this pathology. Ten women with major depressive illness (MDI) (three premenopausal and seven postmenopausal) and four normal matched controls (one premenopausal and three postmenopausal) were evaluated. Samples were obtained every 30 min using a constant withdrawal pump. Growth hormone (GH) pulses were analysed by Cluster System. Twenty-four hour IC-GH was evaluated as area under the curve (AUC) and the following results were found: depressed (D) = 429.15 +/- 367.9 vs. controls (C) = 1281.07 +/- 379.77 (p < .008); nocturnal IC-GH: D = 220 +/- 274.0 vs. C = 739.52 +/- 378.15 (p < .02). No statistically significant differences were found between D and C in diurnal IC-GH or in the number of nocturnal or diurnal pulses. Adrenal (cortisol at 0800h, 2300h and post-suppression with 1 mg of dexamethasone) and thyroid (T3, T4, 0800h and 1700h TSH) evaluations did not show statistically significant differences between D and C women. In conclusion, patients with MDI present a decrease in total GH secretion at the expense of the nocturnal period, probably due to changes in the neurotransmitters that would be involved in depression.

[Variability of growth hormone response to repeated stimulation tests in children of normal height]. / Variabilidad de respuesta de hormona de crecimiento a pruebas de estímulo reiteradas en niños de talla normal.

The presence of false negatives in the evaluation of patients with short stature and the variability of 24 hour growth hormone (GH) physiological studies in the normal population are well known. Therefore the reproducibility of two widely used pharmacological test was studied in normal children. Forty prepuberal children were evaluated (34 boys and 6 girls), with chronological ages ranging from 2 years 11 months to 12 years 11 months (mean: 9 years 1 month), bone ages from 3 years 2 months to 12 years 6 months (mean: 8 years 4 months) and with normal stature and growth velocity (SDS > -2) and normal body mass index (BMI < 25). Clonidine test was performed (100 micrograms/m2 surface) measuring GH (ng/ml) 0,06 and 90 min in 20 patients (Group I). Exercise-Propranolol test was performed (0,5 mg/kg weight) with basal and post-exercise GH measurements in 20 patients (Groups II). The tests were repeated at one week intervals and each child was his own control. Group I showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.78 +/- 1.59, Max Resp = 13.16 +/- 8.34; 2nd test: B = 1.17 +/- 0.51, Max Resp = 15.12 +/- 8.09. Group II showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.38 +/- 0.58, Max Resp 16.97 +/- 9.69; 2nd test: B = 1.54 +/- 1.16, Max Resp = 13.49 +/- 7.81. Wilcoxon's test did not show significant differences when comparing B vs B and Max Resp vs Max Resp in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Variabilidad de respuesta de hormona de crecimiento a pruebas de estímulo reiteradas en niños de talla normal. / [Variability of growth hormone response to repeated stimulation tests in children of normal height]

The presence of false negatives in the evaluation of patients with short stature and the variability of 24 hour growth hormone (GH) physiological studies in the normal population are well known. Therefore the reproducibility of two widely used pharmacological test was studied in normal children. Forty prepuberal children were evaluated (34 boys and 6 girls), with chronological ages ranging from 2 years 11 months to 12 years 11 months (mean: 9 years 1 month), bone ages from 3 years 2 months to 12 years 6 months (mean: 8 years 4 months) and with normal stature and growth velocity (SDS > -2) and normal body mass index (BMI < 25). Clonidine test was performed (100 micrograms/m2 surface) measuring GH (ng/ml) 0,06 and 90 min in 20 patients (Group I). Exercise-Propranolol test was performed (0,5 mg/kg weight) with basal and post-exercise GH measurements in 20 patients (Groups II). The tests were repeated at one week intervals and each child was his own control. Group I showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.78 +/- 1.59, Max Resp = 13.16 +/- 8.34; 2nd test: B = 1.17 +/- 0.51, Max Resp = 15.12 +/- 8.09. Group II showed (mean +/- SD): 1st test: B = 1.38 +/- 0.58, Max Resp 16.97 +/- 9.69; 2nd test: B = 1.54 +/- 1.16, Max Resp = 13.49 +/- 7.81. Wilcoxons test did not show significant differences when comparing B vs B and Max Resp vs Max Resp in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)