Growth Hormone and Somatomedin Levels in Acromegalics Treated with Bromocriptine

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of varied doses of bromocriptine on the growth hormonesomatomedin axis have been studied in 6 acromegalic patients. The study last 9 months and during this time a maximum daily dose of bromocriptine of 60 mg was given to 3, 50 mg to 1 and 20 mg to the remaining 2 patients. In 2 of the 6 there was an excellent reduction in the growth hormone (GH) levels down to the normal range on doses as low as 5 and 10 mg bromocriptine. In these 2 the serum somatomedin activity (SM-act) decreased to 71 and 53% of the basal values and there was an excellent clinical response. A third patient showed moderate clinical improvement, a reduction in the mean GH level but not down to the normal range and a decrease in serum SM-act of 10%. The remaining 3 patients showed no significant changes in GH levels or serum SM-act but all had a good clinical response. We conclude that when the clinical and GH responses to bromocriptine are both excellent there is a significant decrease in serum SM-act. In addition there may be a good clinical response in the absence of any changes in the circulating GH levels or SM-act which suggests that part of the beneficial effects due to bromocriptine are mediated by mechanisms other than changes in the GH-somatomedin axis.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: