Growth hormone secretion and plasma renin activity in children following administration of clonidine
Butenandt, O.; Dörr, H.; Rüdisser, A.; Joswig, R.
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinderheilkunde 132(10): 776-779
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-9298 PMID: 6392861 Document Number: 225907
Growth hormone and plasma renin activity were measured following oral clonidine. 50 out of 61 (82%) children without pituitary dysfunction receiving 75 micrograms Clonidine per sqm bodysurface area reached maximal levels of more than 6 ng GH/ml, and only 44 (72%) of more than 8 ng/ml. Following 25 micrograms Clonidine only 50% of children without pituitary dysfunction reached GH-levels of more than 6 ng/ml, and only 40% of more than 8 ng/ml. In 72% of children the growth hormone level determined in a single specimen taken 60 min after they fell asleep was higher than 6 ng/ml. Only 2 out of 33 children without pituitary dysfunction did not present sufficient amounts of growth hormone following clonidine or sleep to exclude growth hormone deficiency to screen for growth hormone deficiency. It is recommended to use 75 micrograms of Clonidine/m2 as a provocative test, and additionally to determine growth hormone after onset of sleep. Plasma renin activity prior to clonidine was 3.13 ng/ml/h, and 2.03 ng/ml/h 30 min after drugintake. Systolic blood pressure decreased from 118 mm Hg initially to 104 mm Hg (mean) within 30 min after clonidine was given orally.