GROWTH-HORMONE RESPONSE TO ACUTE GROWTH-HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE ADMINISTRATION IN UREMIC PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS

To examine the response of growth hormone (GH) to growth hormone relea sing factor (GHRF) in patients on haemodialysis, we performed the acut e GHRF test (50-mu-g administered intravenously as a bolus) in 10 urae mic male patients on haemodialysis and eight normal controls. Each pat ient was tested before and after a haemodialysis session (at 08.30 and 12.30). Controls were tested on the same time schedule. At 08.30, pat ients had significantly greater basal and peak GH values (2.5 +/- 0.6 and 27.8 +/- 5.5-mu-g/l) than controls (0.68 +/- 0.1 and 11.5 +/- 4-mu -g/l). After the haemodialysis session, basal and peak values declined significantly (P < 0.01) in the uraemic group (0.5 +/- 0.03 and 3.1 /- 1.1-mu-g/l), whereas the controls did not show such a change in the 12.30 test. Basal and intratest glycaemic values were comparable both before and after haemodialysis. After dialysis test results did not c hange either with the use of glucose-free dialysate or with bicarbonat e buffer. Uraemic patients display a greater GH response to GHRF injec tion than normal subjects, and this response decreases after haemodial ysis. The degree of reduction has no relationship with either glycaemi a or the dialysate buffer. We suggest that other GH secretion regulati ng factors are altered by the haemodialysis procedure.