GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE AND INSULIN-SECRETION IN CHILDREN BEFORE AND DURINGRECOMBINANT GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT

This study evaluates glucose metabolism and insulin secretion in child ren with Ullrich-Turner syndrome (UTS), chronic renal failure (CRF) an d kidney transplantation (KTx) with rh GH therapy using an intravenous glucose infusion test. Before treatment, glucose AUC was significantl y increased in all patient groups when compared to normal controls. Bo th the early and second phases of insulin secretion were not altered. During treatment, elevated glucose AUC showed a further increase in pa tients with KTx but not in patients with CRF or UTS. Both the early an d second insulin secretion phases rose significantly in UTS and were t ransiently elevated after 6 and 12 months of therapy in patients with CRF and KTx. We conclude that growth hormone therapy aggravates altera tion of glucose metabolism in patients with KTx and not in children wi th CRF and UTS. Progressive hyperinsulinemia occurred only in patients with UTS.