C D Rubin1, B Reed. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 75235-8889, USA. crubin@mednet.swmed.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the 24-h endogenous secretory growth hormone (GH) profile and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) response to exogenous recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in a patient with Werner's syndrome. DESIGN: Blood sampling every 20 min for 24 h followed by three daily injections of growth hormone. SETTING: General Clinical Research Center. PATIENTS: Single patient with Werner's syndrome. MEASUREMENTS: Serum GH and IGF-I. RESULTS: Growth hormone pulses were absent during the 24-h monitoring period. Likewise, integrated GH concentrations were very low at 0.25 mu min/mL, and no peaks occurred after sleep onset. Following single daily administration of rhGH, serum GH and IGF-I rose. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support previous but less extensive studies suggesting patients with Werner's syndrome have reduced growth hormone levels. Preliminary investigations using rhGH in patients with Werner's syndrome should be considered.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the 24-h endogenous secretory growth hormone (GH) profile and serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) response to exogenous recombinant humangrowth hormone (rhGH) in a patient with Werner's syndrome. DESIGN: Blood sampling every 20 min for 24 h followed by three daily injections of growth hormone. SETTING: General Clinical Research Center. PATIENTS: Single patient with Werner's syndrome. MEASUREMENTS: Serum GH and IGF-I. RESULTS:Growth hormone pulses were absent during the 24-h monitoring period. Likewise, integrated GH concentrations were very low at 0.25 mu min/mL, and no peaks occurred after sleep onset. Following single daily administration of rhGH, serum GH and IGF-I rose. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support previous but less extensive studies suggesting patients with Werner's syndrome have reduced growth hormone levels. Preliminary investigations using rhGH in patients with Werner's syndrome should be considered.