CONTEXT: Few studies have addressed the diagnostic role of the glucagon test in children with suspected GH deficiency (GHD). OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of the glucagon test as an alternative test to insulin tolerance test (ITT) and arginine in GHD children younger than 6 yr. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was conducted in two pediatric endocrinology centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight children (median age 4.2 yr, median height -3.0 sd score) with GHD confirmed by a peak GH to ITT and arginine less than 10 microg/liter (median 4.7 and 3.4 microg/liter, respectively) underwent a glucagon stimulation test. Magnetic resonance imaging showed normal hypothalamic-pituitary anatomy in 24 children, isolated anterior pituitary hypoplasia in seven, and structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities in 17. RESULTS: Median GH peak response to glucagon (13.5 microg/liter) was significantly higher than that observed after ITT and arginine (P < 0.0001). GH peak after glucagon was less than 10 microg/liter in 20 subjects (group 1) and greater than 10 microg/liter in 28 subjects (group 2) without significant clinical or biochemical differences between the two groups. Median GH peak after glucagon was similar between patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and those with isolated GHD and between subjects with and without structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities. The magnitude of the GH peak after glucagon was negatively correlated to age at diagnosis (rho = -0.636, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glucagon has an effective GH-releasing activity and can be used to evaluate somatotroph function in young children with short stature. Normative data for this test in young children need to be established before its use in clinical practice.
CONTEXT: Few studies have addressed the diagnostic role of the glucagon test in children with suspected GH deficiency (GHD). OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of the glucagon test as an alternative test to insulin tolerance test (ITT) and arginine in GHD children younger than 6 yr. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was conducted in two pediatric endocrinology centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight children (median age 4.2 yr, median height -3.0 sd score) with GHD confirmed by a peak GH to ITT and arginine less than 10 microg/liter (median 4.7 and 3.4 microg/liter, respectively) underwent a glucagon stimulation test. Magnetic resonance imaging showed normal hypothalamic-pituitary anatomy in 24 children, isolated anterior pituitary hypoplasia in seven, and structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities in 17. RESULTS: Median GH peak response to glucagon (13.5 microg/liter) was significantly higher than that observed after ITT and arginine (P < 0.0001). GH peak after glucagon was less than 10 microg/liter in 20 subjects (group 1) and greater than 10 microg/liter in 28 subjects (group 2) without significant clinical or biochemical differences between the two groups. Median GH peak after glucagon was similar between patients with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency and those with isolated GHD and between subjects with and without structural hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities. The magnitude of the GH peak after glucagon was negatively correlated to age at diagnosis (rho = -0.636, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that glucagon has an effective GH-releasing activity and can be used to evaluate somatotroph function in young children with short stature. Normative data for this test in young children need to be established before its use in clinical practice.
Authors: Kevin C J Yuen; Beverly M K Biller; Laurence Katznelson; Sharon A Rhoads; Michelle H Gurel; Olivia Chu; Valentina Corazzini; Kellie Spiller; Murray B Gordon; Roberto Salvatori; David M Cook Journal: Pituitary Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 4.107
Authors: Zeinab Sarem; Christiane Bumke-Vogt; Ayman M Mahmoud; Biruhalem Assefa; Martin O Weickert; Aikatarini Adamidou; Volker Bähr; Jan Frystyk; Matthias Möhlig; Joachim Spranger; Stefanie Lieske; Andreas L Birkenfeld; Andreas F H Pfeiffer; Ayman M Arafat Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2017-09-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Amir H Hamrahian; Kevin C J Yuen; Murray B Gordon; Karen J Pulaski-Liebert; James Bena; Beverly M K Biller Journal: Pituitary Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 4.107
Authors: Veronique Beauloye; K Dhondt; W Buysse; A Nyakasane; F Zech; J De Schepper; S Van Aken; K De Waele; M Craen; I Gies; I Francois; D Beckers; A Desloovere; G Francois; M Cools Journal: Orphanet J Rare Dis Date: 2015-09-02 Impact factor: 4.123