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Analyses of 24-Hour Growth Hormone Profiles in Children: Relation to Growth^*

Departments of Pediatrics II (K.A.-W.) and Physiology (K.A.-W., S.R.), University of Göteborg Göteborg, Sweden

Address requests for reprints to: Dr Kerstin Albertsson-Wikland, Department of Pediatrics II, Childrens Hospital, S416 85 Goteborg, Sweden.

The relationship between height and amount of GH measured during a 24-h period was studied in 127 children who were growing at different rates. Of the children, 88 were prepubertal (3–16 yr old) and 39 were pubertal (10–16 yr old). The height of each child was expressed as the SD score, i.e. height in relation to the sex- and age-matched Swedish reference groups, and spontaneous GH secretion was estimated by taking integrated 20-min blood samples for a 24-h period, i.e. 72 samples/child. In a few children, discrete samples were taken in parallel with the integrated 20-min samples with virtually the same results. Plasma GH was estimated in each sample using a polyclonal RIA method. To compare different 24-h GH profiles, the profiles were analyzed using a computer program (Pulsar).

One objective of the study was to determine if less frequent sampling and/or shorter sampling periods yielded the same information as that obtained by 20-min sampling for the whole 24-h period. To determine if less frequent sampling provided the same information as that obtained by the 20-min period, we simulated 40- and 60-min periods by pooling two or three consecutive samples. No difference was found between 20- and 40-min sampling, but with 60-min sampling the mean calculated baseline plasma GH concentrations increased, and the GH concentration within peaks [the area under the curve above the baseline (AUC_b)] decreased markedly. A 30-min sampling interval thus seems to be a valid practical compromise. To determine if sampling periods shorter than 24 h provided the same information, we divided the profiles, which started at 0900 h, into two 12-h, three 8-h and four 6-h periods. A graded decrease in AUC_b and a corresponding increase in the baseline was found with the shorter periods, indicating that the whole 24-h period is necessary for GH sampling.

Another objective of the study was to determine whether there was a correlation between 24-h GH secretion and the height, age, and sex of the children. In the prepubertal children, the height (in SD scores) was highly correlated (r = 0.69; P < 0.001) with GH AUC_b during the 24-h period. Height also correlated with AUC_b estimated over shorter time periods; the correlation diminished with decreasing time. In the pubertal children, a nonlinear correlation (r = 0.36; P < 0.05) was found between height and 24-h GH (AUC_b). Among the prepubertal children no correlation was found with sex or age and 24-h GH secretion.

We conclude that there is a relationship between 24-h GH secretion and the growth of normal children over a wide range of growth rates.

^* Part of this work has previously been presented in abstract form [Acta Endocrinol [Suppl 256] (Copenh) 103:129,1983]. This work was supported by grants from Swedish Medical Research Council (6465, 7509, 27), the Swedish Society of Medical Sciences, Jeansson's Foundation, Lundgren's Foundation, Tore Nilsson's Foundation, and KabiVitrum AB.

Received July 16, 1987.

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