SERUM THYROTROPHIN RESPONSE TO THYROTROPHIN-RELEASING HORMONE IN NORMAL CHILDREN AND IN PATIENTS WITH SHORT STATURE AND VARIOUS ENDOCRINE OR GENETIC DESEASES

The TSH response to TRH has been investigated in a group of forty-two children, including eight normal controls, eight patients with short stature and without growth hormone deficieny, twelve hypopituitary patients, seven patients with thyroid disorders and seven others with various diseases, including four cases of Turner's syndrome. All children with short stature and without GH deficiency demonstrate a normal response to TRH. The same conclusion arises from the data obtained in most of the cases with isolated GH deficiency. In one out of three cases of organic hypopituitarism, the maximal TSH response was delayed to 60 min after injection. Patients with Turner's syndrome have a normal response to TRH while the pituitary response was definitely enhanced in one case of pseudohypoparathyroidism.