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Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI106904

Metabolic Effects of Human Growth Hormone and of Estrogens in Boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Daniel Rudman, Samuel B. Chyatte, Joseph H. Patterson, Glynda G. Gerron, Irma O'Beirne, Joan Barlow, Ashby Jordan, and Joel S. Shavin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published May 1, 1972 - More info

Published in Volume 51, Issue 5 on May 1, 1972
J Clin Invest. 1972;51(5):1118–1124. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106904.
© 1972 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published May 1, 1972 - Version history
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Abstract

Metabolic balance studies were conducted in seven boys with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy, and in six normal boys of similar age, during a 12 day control period and during a 12 day period of treatment with human growth hormone (HGH) at the following doses: 0.0168, 0.0532, and 0.168 U/kg body weight (BW)¾ per day (doses A, B, and C, respectively). In five of the six normals, dose C caused positive balances in N, P, Na, and K; doses B and A had anabolic effects in two and one normal subjects, respectively. In six of the seven Duchenne cases, dose C caused negative balances of N and K, and sometimes of P. Negative balances were produced in three of the Duchenne subjects by dose B, and in one by dose A. None of the dystrophy cases exhibited an anabolic response to any dosage of HGH tested.

The release of endogenous HGH in response to insulin, after 2 days' pretreatment with diethylstilbestrol, was similar in both groups of subjects. In the course of these tests, a marked anabolic effect of diethylstilbestrol in the Duchenne patients was apparent. Therefore metabolic balance studies were repeated, in both Duchenne and normal cases, during a 12 day control period and during 12 days of treatment with diethylstilbestrol (0.106 mg/kg BW¾ per day). In three of the normal children, diethylstilbestrol had no effect on the elemental balances; in two cases, a retention of Na was observed. In all seven Duchenne cases, diethylstilbestrol caused positive balances in N, P, Na, and K. Ethinyl estradiol (0.0106 mg/kg BW¾ per day) produced positive N, P, Na, and K balances in all three Duchenne cases tested with this agent.

The data show that exogenous HGH causes a catabolic effect in boys with Duchenne dystrophy. These patients are hyperresponsive to the anabolic effect of diethylstilbestrol. The latter phenomenon may reflect the inhibitory effect of estrogen upon the peripheral actions of these boys' endogenous HGH.

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