Abstract
Sixty-five patients (22 boys and 43 girls) presenting with familial tall stature were investigated with regard to growth hormone (GH) secretion, both physiological and after stimulation with thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and growth hormone relasing hormone (GHRH). Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was also measured. Two groups of patients were distinguished according to their physiological secretion of GH: a high secretory group (n=49) with a mean 24 h integrated concentration of GH (IC-GH) of 5.4±2.3 μg/l per minute and a large number of peaks (5.1±1.6 in 24 h), and a low secretory group (n=16) with a mean 24 h IC-GH of 2.1±0.5 μg/l per minute and few peaks (3.3±1.3 in 24h). Plasma IGF-I levels and GH peak values after the TRH test were significantly higher in the high secretory group. These results indicate that familial tall stature is the consequence either of hypersecretion of GH or of hypersensivity to this hormone (IGF-I levels being normal in spite of low GH levels).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BA :
-
bone age
- CA :
-
chronological age
- GH :
-
growth hormone
- GHRH :
-
growth-hormone releasing-hormone
- IC-GH :
-
24 h integrated concentration of growth hormone
- IGF-I :
-
insulin-like growth factor I
- TRH :
-
thyrotropin releasing-hormone
References
Albertsson-Wikland K, Rosberg S (1988) Analyses of 24 hour growth hormone profiles in children: relation to growth. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 67:493–497
Baumann G, Stolar MW, Amburn K, Barsano CP, Devries BC (1986) A specific growth hormone-binding protein in human plasma: initial characterization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 62: 131–141
Chatelain PG, Van Wyck JJ, Copelland KC, Blethen SL, Underwood LE (1983) Effect of in vitro action of serum protease or exposure to acid on measurable immunoreactive somatomedin C in serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 56:376–383
Chatelain PG, Alamercery Y, Blanchard J, Boissel JP, Evain-Brion D, Morre M, et al. (1987) Growth hormone response to a single intravenous injection of synthetic GH-releasing hormone in prepubertal children with growth failure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 65:387–394
Cosman D, Lyman S, Idzerda RL, Beckmann MP, Park LS, Goodwin RG, March CJ (1990) A new cytokine receptor superfamily. Trends Biochem Sci 15:265–268
Daughaday WH, Trivedi B, Andrews BA (1985) The ontogeny of serum GH binding protein in man: a possible indicator of hepatic GH receptor development. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 65: 1072–1074
Evain-Brion D, Garnier P, Schimpff RM, Chaussain JL, Job JC (1983) Growth hormone response to thyrotropin releasing hormone and oral glucose. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 56: 429–432
Evain-Brion D, Garnier P, Blanco Garcia M, Job JC (1984) Studies in constitutionally tall adolescents. II. Effects of bromocriptime on growth hormone secretion and adult height prediction. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 56:1022–1026
Greulich WW, Pyle SJ (1973) Radiographic atlas of skeletal development of the hand and wrist. Stanford University Press. Palo Alto
Leung D, Spencer SA, Cachiancs G, Hammonds RG, Collins C, Henzel WJ, Barnard R, Waters MJ, Wood WI (1987) Growth hormone receptor and serum binding protein: purification, cloning and expression. Nature 330: 537–543
Mannor DA, Winer LM, Shaw MA, Baumann G (1991) Plasma growth hormone (GH)-binding proteins: effect on GH binding to receptors and GH action. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 73: 30–34
Rochiccioli P, Messina A, Tauber MT, Enjaume C (1987) Correlations of the parameters of 24 hour GH secretion with growth velocity in 93 children of varying height. (abstract) Program of the 26th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology. Toulouse. France
Rochiccioli P, Pienkowski C, Tauber MT, Uboldi F, Enjaume C (1991) Association of pharmacological tests and study of 24-hour growth hormone secretion in the investigation of growth retardation in children: analysis of 257 cases. Horm Res 35:70–75
Rochiccioli P, Tauber MT, Pienkowski C, Enjaume C (1991) Etude critique des méthodes actuelles d'exploration de la sécrétion somatotrope. Revue Française d'Endocrinologie Clinique 32:45–51
Sempé M, Pedron G (1971) Courbes d'accroissement staturopondéral des garçons et des filles. Etude longitudinale 1953–1970. Simep, Lyon Villeurbanne
Tanner JM (1962) Growth at adolescence. Blackwell scientific Publications. Oxford
Tauber MT, Tauber JP, Vigoni F, Harris AG, Rochiccioli P (1990) Effect of the long-acting somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 (Sandostatin) on growth rate and reduction of predicted adult height in ten adolescents. Acta Paediatr Scand 70:176–181
Wettenhall HNB (1975) Tall girls: a survey of 15 years of management and treatment. J Pediatr 86:602–610
Ymer S, Herington A (1985) Evidence for the specific binding of growth hormone to a receptor-like protein in rabbit serum. Mol Cell Endocrinol 41: 153–161
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tauber, M., Pienkowski, C. & Rochiccioli, P. Growth hormone secretion in children and adolescents with familial tall stature. Eur J Pediatr 153, 311–316 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956408
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01956408