[Efficient diagnosis of hypothalamo-hypophyseal nanism: 5 years' experience with the clonidine stimulation test in the diagnosis of growth hormone secretion].

The clonidine stimulation test, using doses of 37.5--75 micrograms clonidine and assessment of growth hormone levels at times 0, 60 minutes, is a suitable, safe and relatively reliable screening test for ambulatory work. As ensues from examinations of 156 children, it is possible to select by this test, as compared with the test of insulin induced hypoglycaemia, more than 70% children with a normal post-stimulation response of growth hormone.