ORAL GLUCOSE CHALLENGE EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND SEX STEROID-HORMONES IN NORMAL WOMEN AND WOMEN WITH HYPOTHALAMIC AMENORRHEA

Objective: To investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on the ser um levels of ovarian and adrenal sex steroid hormones in women with hy pothalamic amenorrhea (HA). Methods: A standard 75-g oral glucose tole rance test (OGTT) was performed in 12 normal women and 16 women with s tress-related or weight-loss-related amenorrhea. Results: Significant progressive declines in GH, testosterone (T), estradiol (E-2) and dehy droepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) were observed during the OGTT in th e normal and HA groups. Significant positive correlations were observe d between GH and T, E-2 and DHEAS. The area under the curve (AUC) for the GH response was significantly greater in the HA group than in the normal group. The ratio of the AUC of insulin-like growth factor to th at of GH was significantly lower in the HA group. Conclusions: Growth hormone may modify ovarian and adrenal sex steroidogenic responses to tropic hormones. A significant degree of GH resistance exists in HA pa tients. This GH resistance may be related to an ovulatory disturbance. (C) 1998 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.