GH and cortisol response to glucagon administration in short children.

Objective: To establish whether there is a link between GH status and glucose response to glucagon and to identify determinants of maximum GH and cortisol concentrations. Methods: 95 children referred for assessment of short stature, slow growth or suspected hypothalamo-pituitary dysfunction were assigned to normal, organic GH-deficient or non-organic GH-deficient groups on the basis of history, GH response and MRI findings. Results: Baseline glucose and glucose nadir were related to age in normal children, but the glucose response to glucagon was not linked to GH status. Peak GH response was positively related to age in prepubertal children and peak cortisol was inversely related to age. Conclusions: GH status is not a major determinant of the glucose response to glucagon. There is a relationship between age and the GH/cortisol response in short normal children.