Growth Hormone and Prolactin Responses to Thyrotropin- Releasing Hormone in Patients with Severe Liver Disease

Abstract

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was administered i.v. to 10 patients with severe liver disease and 10 control subjects. Injection of 400 .mu.g TRH as a bolus induced in 7 out of 10 patients a clear-cut GH [growth hormone] rise (.gtoreq. 10 ng/ml) occurring 15-120 min after the injection, and no effect on GH levels in controls. Mean baseline GH levels were higher in patients than in controls. An exaggerated and sustained PRL [prolactin] rise was present after TRH in the subjects with liver disease, whose mean baseline plasma PRL levels were within normal range.