INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF GROWTH HORMONE INSUFFICIENCY USING GROWTH HORMONE SECRETAGOGUES

The diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) insufficiency has been a diagnostic dilemma for many decades. Over the years, we have developed rodent and nonhuman primate models to address this clinical challenge in children and adults, including the adult aging population. Deficits in GH secretion can be attributed to pituitary and/or hypothalamic ideologies with the most common cause (especially in children and aging adults) being insufficient production and/or secretion of neuroregulatory hormones [GH releasing hormone (GHRH) and ghrelin]. Here we present a patented innovative three-step provocative test as an improvement over traditional provocative testing. This diagnostic approach better addresses the physiologic neuroregulatory control of GH secretagogues on pituitary function. This sequential and combined stimulation with GHRH and ghrelin mimetics supports the hypothetical model for the complementary relationship of GHRH and ghrelin. Data are presented to support the utility of this diagnostic procedure.