Galanin infusion restores the blunted GH responses to GHRH administration during GH treatment in children with constitutional growth delay

GH responses to GHRH (in basal conditions), GHRH (after six months of recombinant GH therapy) and GHRH plus galanin administration (after GH therapy) were determined in six children with constitutional growth delay (CGD). Before treatment, GHRH administration caused a clear rise of GH levels (mean GH peak: 38.0±7.2 ng/ml); mean GH net incremental area under the curve/120 min (GH nAUC) was 2631.0±519.8 ng/ml/120 min. During GH treatment, both height velocity and IGF-I levels significantly increased from 4.3±0.1 cm/yr to 9.4±0.9 cm/yr (p