WHAT CONSTITUTES GH DEFICIENCY

Classic GH deficiency is defined on the basis of provocative tests in the appropriate clinical setting. Some authors have proposed that a suitable nocturnal GH level is a useful physiologic index in normal children. Using standard provocative as well as physiologic (q20 min × 24h) testing, we have studied 18 GH deficient and 11 short (ht <1%tile) control children. The GH deficient group was divided into 3 based on the highest peak GH after provocative tests: severe (< 5.0 ng/ml), moderate (5.0-6.9 ng/ml) and partial (7.0-9.9 ng/ml) GH deficiency. The data are summarized: