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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1992; 99(2): 80-83
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211140
Original

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Inhibitory Effect of Somatostatin on Abnormal GH Response to TRH in Primary Hypothyroidism

M. Baldini, A. Catania, A. Orsatti, M. G. Manfredi, P. Motta, L. Cantalamessa
  • Cattedra di Semeiotica Medica I (Head: Prof. L. Cantalamessa), Università di Milano, Milano/Italy
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Publication History

1991

Publication Date:
15 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) does not promote GH secretion in normal subjects but it stimulates GH in a proportion of hypothyroid patients.

In this study the response of GH to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was evaluated in 21 patients with primary hypothyroidism of different origin: 12 with autoimmune thyroiditis, 3 idiopathic, 3 congenital, 3 iatrogenic. 11 of these patients had never been treated, the others were tested after a drug-free period of at least two weeks. Basal plasma concentration of GH was normal in all patients; after TRH administration, a significant increase in plasma GH was observed in 4 patients. In these responsive patients, somatostatin infusion inhibited the abnormal GH response to TRH. It is suggested that the abnormal GH response to TRH in primary hypothyroidism might be caused by a relative deficiency of somatostatinergic control, which is corrected by exogenous somatostatin administration.

Key words

Somatostatin - GH - TRH - Primary hypothyroidism

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