METABOLIC EFFECTS OF SHORT TERM ADMINISTRATION OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN INFANCY AND EARLY CHILDHOOD

Abstract

The metabolic effects of short term administration of human growth hormone were studied in 4 infants 2 weeks to 2 1/2 months old and 3 children 11 months to 3 1/4 years of age. They responded qualitatively in the same way as older children and hypopituitary dwarfs. Quantitatively the infants responded to a lesser extent than older subjects. The most constant findings are in order of decreasing response: Fall in urinary creatine, urea nitrogen and total nitrogen excretion and decreasing blood concentration of urea and residual nitrogen. An increase in a -amino-nitrogen excretion is also a fairly common finding. There is only a slight rise in the fasting level of free fatty acids in the serum in response to HGH injection in the infants. In the children this effect is already more pronounced. A fall in urinary sodium, potassium and phosphorus does not occur as regularly as in older subjects. An increase in ketone bodies in the urine was observed in some infants and children.