[Somatocrinin and children in 1984. Application to the etiological diagnosis of somatotropin deficiencies].

A single acute IV injection (1 microgram/kg) of the synthetic replicate of Somatocrinin (GRF) in 40 children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency induces a marked plasma GH increase, although heterogeneous. Clinical tolerance is excellent. Compared to Propranolol + Glucagon (P + G), GRF induces a better GH response. It also discriminates better idiopathic GH deficiency (n = 13), where mean GH peak = 6.5 ng/ml (3.3 after P + G) from GH deficiency secondary to a brain tumor (n = 24) where mean GH peak = 15.5 ng/ml (5.0 after P + G) GRF induces a slight Prolactin (Prl) increase, more obvious when basal Prl is elevated. However there is no correlation between GH and Prl responses to GRF even with basal hyperprolactinemia. GH response to GRF seems to slowly decrease after radiation therapy. GRF is a new potent, well tolerated secretagogue of GH and improves the diagnostic quality of the etiology of GH deficiency.