METABOLIC STUDIES WITH HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN DWARFISM AND ACROMEGALY

Abstract

Human growth hormone failed to cause nitrogen retention in 4 primordial dwarfts. In 3 of 4 other children, there was a small but distinctly positive nitrogen balance. The primordial dwarfs were not completely refractory to human growth hormone since it caused an increase in the level of plasma unesterified fatty acid and an increase in urinary calcium excretion. In 4 adult patients with acromegaly, human growth hormone was ineffective as an anabolic agent. It did, however, cause an increase in the urinary excretion of calcium. Since 2 of the 4 subjects had clinically inactive disease, it is proposed that the tissues of these subjects had responded maximally to endogenous HGH and subsequently maintained this response. The administration of androgen resulted in nitrogen retention, indicating different sites or mechanisms of deposition of protein.