Hexarelin as a test of pituitary reserve in patients with pituitary disease.

Journal article

BACKGROUND: The insulin tolerance test (ITT) is the reference standard for the diagnosis of cortisol and growth hormone (GH) deficiency, but problems have occurred in small children in inexperienced hands and it is contraindicated in patients with cardiac disease and epilepsy. Hexarelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide with GH-, ACTH/cortisol- and prolactin-releasing effects which involve both hypothalamic and direct pituitary mechanisms. We therefore investigated whether it could be use...

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Authors: Korbonits, M; Kaltsas, G; Perry, L; Grossman, AB; Monson, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Clinical endocrinology
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 369-375
• Publication date: 1999-09-01
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00828.x
• EISSN: 1365-2265
• ISSN: 0300-0664
• Language: English
• Keywords: Pituitary Gland; Humans; Growth Hormone; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; Hydrocortisone; Oligopeptides; Middle Aged; Adult; Male; Predictive Value of Tests; Aged; Pituitary Diseases; Female; Insulin