DECREASED SWEATING IN 7 PATIENTS WITH LARON SYNDROME

Previous studies have shown that sweat secretion was reduced in patien ts with GH deficiency and increased during GH treatment, indicating an influence of GH on sweat gland function. Thus, patients with GH defic iency have impaired thermoregulation. We report on sweat secretion rat es (SSRs) in seven patients with Laron syndrome, measured by pilocarpi ne iontophoresis. The patients had significantly lower SSRs than healt hy children matched for sex and pubertal stage (P < 0.00005) and moder ately, but significantly, elevated sweat electrolyte concentrations (P < 0.00005 for potassium; P < 0.01 for sodium). These observations fur ther supported the hypothesis that sweat gland function in humans is u nder the influence of the GH-insulin-like growth factor-I axis. It rem ains to be seen whether the decrease in SSR also leads to altered ther moregulation in patients with Laron syndrome.