The effect of exogenous and endogenous growth hormone on plasma growth hormone binding activity in prepubertal children.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between plasma growth hormone (GH) and plasma GH-binding protein (GHBP) activity we studied the effects of exogenous and endogenous GH on GHBP in children with a normal response to GH stimulation. The effect of exogenous GH on plasma binding activity was studied for 12 h after the administration of a subcutaneous GH bolus of 0.1 IU/kg and during the first year of GH therapy. The effect of endogenous GH secretion on GHBP was studied by measuring the integrated concentration (IC) of GH and GHBP over 24 h by means of a continuous blood withdrawal procedure. We also measured the GH and GHBP response to GH provocative tests. One hundred and two prepubertal children, 69 males, 33 females, age 8.8 +/- 2.2 years (mean +/- SD), were studied. Eighty-one were short, < 2 SDS for age and gender, and 21 were of normal height for age and gender. There was no difference in IC-GHBP between boys and girls. It correlated positively with age and body mass index (r = 0.802, p < 0.001 and r = 0.340, p < 0.001, respectively) but correlated negatively with ICGH (r = -0.412, p < 0.001) and with height velocity standard deviation scores (SDS, r = -0.355, p = 0.001). No correlation of ICGHBP with maximal GH response to provocative tests, insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, height in SDS or growth velocity after 1 year of GH therapy was found. During a provocative test there is an abrupt increase in GH but not change in GHBP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)