Elevated basal growth hormone levels and growth hormone response to TRH in alcoholic patients with cirrhosis.

Basal plasma growth hormone (GH) and GH responses after the administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) were studied in 9 male alcoholic patients with cirrhosis. Basal GH was significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in normal men. Intravenous injection of synthetic TRH (400 microgram) caused a significant increase in plasma GH in 7 out of the 9 cirrhotic patients examined, while it did not increase GH levels in normal subjects.