SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH DIFFERENT DOSES OF HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH GROWTH-HORMONE DEFICIENCY

We studied the effects of short term replacement with human GH at thre e doses (0.124, 0.250 and 0.375 IU/kgBW/week) in 12 adult patients wit h GH deficiency (GHD). The patients were divided at random into three goups of 4 patients (groups A, B and C) and each group was treated wit h three doses of GH and placebo for 10 weeks in shifts of two weeks ea ch. The replacement was started with one of three doses of GH given sc daily at 2100 h for 2 weeks, which was followed by placebo treatment for 2 weeks. The various doses of GH and placebo were then given alter nately. GH treatment increased serum IGF-I and IGF-BPS levels in all t he patients examined although the responses were partly influenced by the order of GH treatment. When the data obtained with the same doses of GH in the three groups were combined, a dose-response was demonstra ted. There was a close correlation (r=0.726) between serum IGF-I and I GFBP-3. Serum triiodothyronine as well as non-esterified fatty acid (N EFA) levels also increased after GH replacement. Adverse side effects included edema in two cases and sleep distress in one case during the GH treatment at the highest dose of 0.375 IU/kgBW/week. These findings indicate that short term replacement with GH at the doses of 0.125 an d 0.250 IU/kgBW/week is safe and effective in adult patients with GHD.