Glucose suppression of serum growth hormone in the diagnosis of acromegaly

Abstract
The range of serum immunoreactive human growth hormone (IRHGH) levels found in normal and acromegalic individuals prevented complete separation of the two groups. A test has been devised whereby IRHGH levels are determined before and one hour after administration of 100 gm of glucose orally. Nonacromegalic individuals suppress IRHGH to minimally detectable levels. Patients with acromegaly show responses ranging from paradoxical elevations and fixed levels to only moderate degrees of suppression, but not to the very low levels of normal individuals.