The response of plasma human growth hormone to insulin and ethanol-induced hypoglycemia in two patients with “isolated adrenocorticotropic defect”

Abstract

Plasma levels of human growth hormone (HGH) were examined after overnight fast and during hypoglycemic challenge in 2 patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria for “isolated” defects in the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Fasting concentrations of HGH were normal in both patients and normal elevations of HGH occurred during insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Comparable rises of HGH did not occur when hypoglycemia was produced with ethanol infusions after overnight fast. In 1 normal volunteer, induction of hypoglycemia with ethanol after 3 day fast attentuated the elevated HGH level of starvation. The findings with insulin hypoglycemia constitute the first demonstration that normal growth hormone activity may be preserved in the syndrome of “isolated adrenocorticotropic defect.” The HGH responses to ethanol hypoglycemia in the 2 patients and the normal volunteer suggest that all hypoglycemias need not elicit equal stimulation of HGH.