Abstract
Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) does not promote GH secretion in normal subjects but it stimulates GH in a proportion of hypothyroid patients. In this study the response of GH to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was evaluated in 21 patients with primary hypothyroidism of different origin: 12 with autoimmune thyroiditis, 3 idiopathic, 3 congenital, 3 iatrogenic. 11 of these patients had never been treated, the others were tested after a drug-free period of at least two weeks. Basal plasma concentration of GH was normal in all patients; after TRH administration, a significant increase in plasma GH was observed in 4 patients. In these responsive patients, somatostatin infusion inhibited the abnormal GH response to TRH. It is suggested that the abnormal GH response to TRH in primary hypothyroidism might be caused by a relative deficiency of somatostatinergic control which is corrected by exogenous somatostatin administration.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 80-83 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology |
Volume | 99 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1992 |
Keywords
- GH
- Primary hypothyroidism
- Somatostatin
- TRH
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology