Effects of alcohol on growth hormone secretion in acromegaly.

In 3 normal subjects and in 4 acromegalic patients pretreatment with an alcohol infusion for 4 hours at a constant rate reduced the GH response to Arginine, when comparison was made with pretreatment with saline. The reduction in acromegalics was more marked and sustained than in normals. Though it is likely that the effect of alcohol is exerted on hypothalamic centers, a direct influence on the pituitary cannot be excluded.