Li Human Growth Hormone Administration in Gonadal Dysgenesis

Abstract

HUMAN growth hormone (HGH) administered to children with hypopituitarism has an anabolic effect and increases the rate of linear growth without undue stimulation of bony maturation.^1,2 Short-term balance studies in individuals with intact pituitary function have demonstrated an anabolic effect, but attempts to stimulate growth have produced inconsistent results.^3,4 Although growth retardation due to hypopituitarism is relatively infrequent, a number of children have constitutional dwarfing of various other types, in whom an agent which can produce growth would be most useful. This is a report of our study of the effect of HGH (Li) on linear growth in two patients with gonadal dysgenesis. Procedure The HGH used in this study was prepared by the Li method⁵ from pituitaries acquired by the Pituitary Bank of the University of California-San Francisco Medical Center.* The HGH, a dry powder, was dissolved in saline solution and passed through a Millipore filter,