The GH response to low-dose bolus growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH(1-29)NH2) is attenuated in patients with longstanding post-irradiation GH insufficiency

Objective: Previous studies have suggested that post-irradiation GH insufficiency results from a loss of GHRH secretion, since many patients were able to release GH following exogenous GHRH stimulation. However, supramaximal doses of GHRH were used and the response may decline with time after radiotherapy. We re-evaluated the GHRH dose-response curve in patients post cranial irradiation and in controls.Design: Randomized controlled study.Methods: Five adult male long-term survivors of childhood brain tumours (median age 21.8 years (18.4-26.7); 13.7 years (11.4-15.7) post-radiotherapy, >30Gy) and five matched controls were studied. An intravenous bolus of GHRH(1-29)NH2 was administered in doses at the lower (0.05 mu g/kg) and upper (0.15 mu g/kg) range of the dose-response curves for young males, as well as the standard supramaximal dose (1.0 mu g/kg). GH was measured before stimulation, every 2 min for the first hour and every 5 min for the second hour. All studies were conducted in a random fashion.Results: Significantly lower peak and area under the curve (AUC) GH concentrations occurred in the irradiated group using 0.15,mu g/kg (median peak Irradiated, 4.5 mU/l vs median Controls, 37.4 mU/1; P < 0.01) and 1.0 mu g/kg (median peak Irradiated, 4.5 mU/1 vs median Controls, 15.2 mU/1; P < 0.05) GHRH(1-29)NH2. In irradiated subjects there was an incremental rise in GH output with increasing doses of GHRH(1-29)NH2 (median AUG: 122 mU/l.min vs 179 mU/l.min vs 268 mU/l.min; P = 0.007) reflecting altered pituitary sensitivity and reduced responsiveness.Conclusion: The GH response to bolus GHRH(1-29)NH2 is attenuated in adult long-term survivors of childhood brain tumours. This may reflect direct pituitary damage and/or the loss of the tropic effects of chronic GHRH deficiency.