Abstract
In 7 acromegalic patients growth hormone responses were studied following administration
of synthetic TRF, propranolol-glucagon, insulin, and glucose p.o. Except for the glucose
tolerance test, a good reproducibility of the STH response was observed.
In 5 out of the 7 patients, there was a distinct rise in the plasma STH level after
TRF. All patients with a positive insulin tolerance test responded to TRF, as did
the two late responders to glucagon; the early responder to the latter test did not
respond to TRF. It has been suggested (Liuzzi et al. 1974a) that TRF might be used
as a screening test for detecting hypothalamic dependency of the acromegaly. This
study suggests that further study is required before accepting this hypothesis and
that a response to a combination of tests (TRF, glucagon, insulin) might be a better
screening method.
Abbreviations used:
1- TRF = thyrotropin releasing factor
2- STH = growth hormone
3- STHRF = growth hormone releasing factor
4- GTT = glucose tolerance test
5- ITT = insulin tolerance test
Key words
Acromegaly - Growth Hormone - TRF - Propranolol-Glucagon - Insulin Tolerance Test
- Glucose Tolerance Test
