DECREASED GROWTH-HORMONE RESPONSE TO GLUCAGON IN INFANTS AFTER AN APNEA OF INFANCY

We studied glucagon-induced growth hormone secretion in 9 patients wit h apnea of infancy and in 55 siblings of children who had died of sudd en infant death syndrome, who were included as a comparison group. We observed a 33% decrease in growth hormone secretion in patients with a pnea of infancy. However, linear growth remained normal. This finding could be related to either repeated episodes of hypoxia or to abnormal maturation of the autonomous nervous system.