SECRETION OF GROWTH-HORMONE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-FATIGUE-SYNDROME

Decreased serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are com mon in patients with fibromyalgia, which is frequently associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Twenty patients with CFS (7 men, 13 w omen; age range, 30-60 years) and age- and sex-matched controls were t ested for peak GH responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and argin ine administration. Nocturnal secretion of GH and serum levels of IGF- I were also measured. Serum IGF-I SDS (+/- SD) was significantly lower in patients with CFS than in controls (SDS, -0.39 +/- 1.07 vs 0.33 +/ - 0.84; P = 0.02). Patients with CFS also tended to have reduced noctu rnal secretion of GH (area under the curve, 32.4 +/- 18.3 vs 62.7 +/- 43.7 mu g/1/15 minutes; P = 0.06), but peak GH responses to insulin-in duced hypoglycaemia and arginine administration did not differ signifi cantly between the two groups. It is not clear whether the tendency fo r impaired spontaneous nocturnal GH secretion in patients with CFS is a cause or an effect of the condition.