The effects of oral clonidine on the growth hormone level in acromegalic patients.

The effects of the noradrenergic agent clonidine on GH secretion of the adenohypophysis were studied in 10 healthy volunteers and 11 acromegalic patients. Orally administered clonidine led to a considerable serum human growth hormone (GH) level increase in the healthy individuals. In the acromegalic patients the clonidine resulted in a slight, but not significant GH increase. These results support the findings that the mechanism of noradrenergic regulation of serum GH secretion is impaired in acromegaly.