CLINICAL STUDY Enhancement of the peripheral sensitivity to growth hormone in adults with GH deficiency

Objective: Adults with severe GH deficiency (GHD) need recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) replacement to restore body composition, structure functions and metabolic abnormalities. The optimal rhGH dose for replacement has been progressively reduced to avoid side effects. The aim of the present study was to define the minimal rhGH dose able to increase both IGF-I and IGF binding protein (BP)-3 levels in GHD and to verify the possible change in GH sensitivity. Design and patients: To this goal, we studied the effect of 4-day treatment with 3 rhGH doses (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg/day) on IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in 25 panhypopituitary adults with severe GHD (1