PROLACTIN AND SOMATOMEDIN STUDIES IN THE SYNDROME OF GROWTH HORMONE-INDEPENDENT GROWTH

Abstract

Three children with hypothalamic mass lesions and continued linear growth in the absence of circulating growth hormone are presented. Serum growth hormone levels were either undetectable or very low both basally and following insulin-induced hypoglycemia, whereas serum somatomedin levels were normal. Two subjects had elevated serum levels of prolactin, and in 1 of these prolactin suppression with bromoergocryptine failed to influence either somatomedin levels or urinary excretion of N, hydroxyproline and Ca. Although only 1 case was studied in detail, maintenance of serum somatomedin and of normal growth in these children was probably not dependent on prolactin secretion.