Plasma growth hormone in hyperthyroidism and obesity: Effect of propranolol infusion

Abstract In normal subjects the intravenous infusion of propranolol caused a significant rise in plasma human growth hormone (HGH) levels with a transient decrease in blood free fatty acids (FFA) and no significant change in blood glucose. The plasma HGH response to propranolol was decreased and delayed in patients with hyperthyroidism but became normal after treatment. The plasma HGH rose only very slightly in obese subjects after propranolol infusion. The blood FFA response to propranolol was almost normal in obesity but absent in hyperthyroidism.