Plasma growth hormone response to exercise as diagnostic aid

Abstract

Exercise has been used as a simple screening procedure for showing ability to release growth hormone in 59 children investigated for short stature. 44 were considered as the result of this test to have normal GH output; and of the 15 nonresponders, 5 have subsequently been proved to be GH deficient, and 5 were considered to have given false negative results. The remaining 5 children are undergoing further investigation. It is concluded that a positive GH response to exercise is meaningful, but a negative response does not necessarily indicate GH deficiency.