Relationship of Plasma Clonidine to Growth Hormone Concentrations in Children and Adolescents

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Abstract
The relationships of plasma clonidine to increases in growth hormone, blood pressure response and degree of sedation were studied in nine children with short stature after a 0.15 mg/m2 oral clonidine tolerance test. A direct correlation was found between the peak plasma clonidine concentration and the increase in plasma growth hormone (P = 0.055). The patients experienced varying degrees of blood pressure reduction and sedation that were unrelated to age. No correlation was found between the plasma clonidine concentration and degree of blood pressure reduction or degree of sedation. The half‐life of oral clonidine ranged from 1.75 to 2.38 hours, which is significantly less than that for adults.