[Spontaneous secretion of growth hormone in children with constitutional delay of growth and adolescence and with early normal puberty (author's transl)].

The spontaneous secretion of hGH (plasma-hGH levels, 1/2-hourly determined) during the first 5 1/2 h of sleep was measured in 18 prepubertal children with constitutional delay of growth and adolescence (cDGA), in 14 controls (matched pairs) and 1 girl with early normal puberty (enP). The mean value of the highest individual peaks of the children with cDGA as well as their planimetrically assessed total secretion of hGH amounted to 56% of that of the controls (p less than 0.01 and less than 0.001). The girl with enP showed enhanced hGH maxima and an increased total secretion. Therapeutic trials with hGH, 10 i.u./m2/week lead to a growth velocity twice as fast as before. Treatment with a long acting testosterone preparation caused a manifold increase of the hGH-secretion.