RANDOM SECRETION OF GROWTH-HORMONE IN HUMANS

In normal humans, growth hormone (GH) is secreted from a gland located adjacent to the brain (pituitary) into the blood in distinct pulses, but in patients bearing a tumor within the pituitary (acromegaly) GH i s excessively secreted in an irregular manner. It has been hypothesize d that GH secretion in the diseased state becomes random. This hypothe sis is supported by demonstrating that GH secretion in patients with a cromegaly can not be distinguished from a variety of linear stochastic processes based on the predictability of the fluctuations of GH conce ntration in the bloodstream.