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Free access | 10.1172/JCI106686

Observations on the responsiveness of human subjects to human growth hormone: Effects of endogenous growth hormone deficiency and myotonic dystrophy

Daniel Rudman, Samuel B. Chyatte, Joseph H. Patterson, Glynda G. Gerron, Irma O'Beirne, Joan Barlow, Peter Ahmann, Ashby Jordan, and Robert C. Mosteller

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Rudman, D. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Chyatte, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Patterson, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Gerron, G. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by O'Beirne, I. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Barlow, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Ahmann, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Jordan, A. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Physical Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Department of Biometry, Emory University School of Medicine and the Clinical Research Facility, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Find articles by Mosteller, R. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published September 1, 1971 - More info

Published in Volume 50, Issue 9 on September 1, 1971
J Clin Invest. 1971;50(9):1941–1949. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106686.
© 1971 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published September 1, 1971 - Version history
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Abstract

The effect of human growth hormone (HGH) on the N, P, Na, and K balance, and on the body weight (BW) of three groups of subjects was measured. In group I were nine cases (age 6-69) with HGH deficiency; in group II, eight cases (age 9-79) with normal endogenous HGH; in group III, four cases with myotonic dystrophy (age 45-51). After a 7 day control period, the hormone was administered for 7 days. Each subject was tested with three doses of HGH: dose A, 0.0168 U/kg BW3/4 per day; dose B, 0.0532 U/kg BW3/4 per day; dose C, 0.168 U/kg BW3/4 per day.

In group I, the responsiveness to HGH declined with age. Two subjects aged 6 yr responded to all three doses of HGH with positive balances in N, P, Na, and K and increases in BW. At ages 15-17, responses were obtained only to doses B and C in three cases, and only to dose C in two cases. Two subjects, aged 42 and 69, responded only to dose C. Not only did the threshold dose increase with age in group I, but the magnitude of the responses declined with age as well.

Patients of group II were less responsive to all doses of HGH than were patients of group I at comparable age. None responded to dose A or dose B. All responded to dose C, but the increments in balances and in BW stimulated by this dose were only one-third to one-half as great as in HGH-deficient subjects of similar age.

Three patients of group III responded to all three doses of HGH, and one responded to doses B and C. The responses were similar in magnitude to those in the 6-yr old HGH-deficient children, and greater than those in all other subjects studied.

These data show that responsiveness to exogenous HGH rises with deficiency of endogenous HGH, and that individuals with myotonic dystrophy are hyperresponsive to exogenous HGH.

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