Growth Hormone Response to Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone 1-40 in Turner’s Syndrome

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Abstract
The response of growth hormone (GH) to acute administration of GH-releasing hormone 1-40 (GHRH) was evaluated in 12 patients with Turner’s syndrome and in 12 prepubertal or early pubertal girls. In 7 of 12 patients GHRH induced a definite increase ( > 10 ng/ml) of plasma GH levels. In 5 patients there was a poor GH rise after GHRH administration ( < 10 ng/ml). Overall, the mean GH response of patients was significantly lower than that of normal girls. Five out of 7 patients with a 45 XO karyotype had a reduced GH rise after GHRH, while all patients with non XO karyotype (mosaicism and/or 46 XiX) had a normal GH response to GHRH. Although the cause of short stature in patients with Turner’s syndrome is most likely multifactorial, a reduced pituitary GH reserve, as documented by the reduced GH response to GHRH in some of our patients, may contribute to the growth impairment in this disorder.