Plasma growth hormone levels in spontaneous hypoglycemia.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Plasma growth hormone (HGH) and insulin levels were measured by immunoassay, and cortisol by fluorometry, on one or more occasions during fasting hypoglycemia in 12 patients with spontaneous hypoglycemia from diverse causes. Fasting plasma insulin levels were elevated during hypoglycemia in 5 patients with insulinomas and one with pancreatic acinar carcinoma, but in none of the others. Correlation between blood glucose and HGH concentrations was poor. In 10 of the patients, HGH levels were usually normal, i.e., less than 5 mμg/ml, during fasting hypoglycemia, i.e., blood glucose below 40 mg/100 ml. High plasma growth hormone levels were commoner when symptoms attributable to hypoglycemia were present than when absent, regardless of the absolute blood glucose concentration. The plasma HGH response to other provocative stimuli, e.g., insulin, tolbutamide and glucose, was normal in all cases except one. It is concluded that hypoglycemia is not per se a physiological stimulus to HGH (and cortisol) se...