Propranolol and exercise as a screening test for growth hormone deficiency.

There is a need for a safe, inexpensive, and reliable screening test for growth hormone (GH) reserve. Exercise has been utilized for this purpose but false-negative responses (inadequate GH release in non-GH-deficient patients) has limited the effectiveness of this stimulus as a screening test. Beta-adrenergic blockade (propranolol) was used to enhance the effect of exercise on GH release. Thirty-two non-GH-deficient children and five GH-deficient children were evaluated. All of the non-GH-deficient children responded to propranolol and exercise with serum GH levels exceeding 7 ng/ml. The peak serum GH levels in the five GH-deficient patients did not exceed 4 ng/ml. Propranolol and exercise appears to be an effective screening test for GH function.