Human Growth-Hormone Administration Increases Plasma Osteolcalcin Concentrations In Growth-Hormone Deficiency

We investigated plasma osteocalcin levels before and during treatmant with human growth hormone (GH) in 4 patients (pts.) with GH deficiency. GH deficiency was defined by increase in serum GH<10 ng/dl after stimulation with Insulin and L-Dopa and/or 24 hr. integrated GH<3.2 ng/dl. All 4 pts. had low bone density measured by radiographic photodensitometry as compared to normals for age and sex. All 4 pts. were treated with a new GH produced by recombinant DNA and chemically identical to human GH at the dose of 0.1 mg/Kg every other day for 6 months. Plasma osteocalcin was determined by RIA.