Defective release of growth hormone in parkinsonism improved by levodopa

Details

• Personal Author:
  Brown FC ; Cotzias GC ; Mena I ; Miller ST ; Papavasiliou PS
• Description:
  Determinations were made of serum growth hormone levels every 30 minutes for two separate 24 hour periods in patients with Parkinsonism, using a radioimmunoassay method. The basal levels in three patients with untreated Parkinsonism ranged from 2 to 5 nanograms per milliliter of serum, and were similar to those reported for normal subjects. The records from all runs were flat, except for a total of five short lived rises averaging 7 nanograms above the basal levels. Runs with patients being treated with 500 to 700 milligrams of levodopa six times a day were similar to records obtained from normal individuals. The first morning dose of levodopa increased the levels of growth hormone 10 to 50 nanograms above the basal levels. Subsequent doses evoked smaller rises. The duration and numbers were often similar to those reported for normal subjects. The sum of all measurements conducted each 30 minutes for 8 hours indicated for the untreated versus the treated patients a mean of 67 versus 117 nanograms per 8 hours. The sum of all measurements remaining after subtracting the basal levels to reflect only the rises showed, respectively, 7 versus 62 nanograms per 8 hours for untreated versus treated patients. The authors suggest a defective output of growth hormone exists in patients with Parkinsonism, which levodopa appeared to correct. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Circadian Rhythm Endocrine System Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Circadian-rhythms Hormone-activity Medical-treatment Nervous-system-disorders Neurotoxic-effects
• ISSN:
  0028-4793
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  320-321
• Volume:
  288
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00190478
• Citation:
  N Engl J Med 1973 Feb; 288(6):320-321
• Contact Point Address:
  Nuclear Medicine Pan American Hlth Organization 525 23Rd Street, N W Washington, D C 20037
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1973
• NORA Priority Area:
  Neurotoxic Disorders ; Neurotoxic Effects
• Performing Organization:
  Pan American Health Organization, Washington, Dist of Col
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19701101
• Source Full Name:
  New England Journal of Medicine
• End Date:
  19740731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:e5e05db98043f80ae3640fa96974ed32c9113ac8412c95c1ddd1204a56dc10c14f09c7cd4ded640aab5ed32893ae0aa4e26ccb38573365cd6dd5ed321ab69be8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/204439/cdc_204439_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 415.63 KB ]