Growth hormone stimulation testing remains an essential but flawed tool for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency, with results significantly influenced by assay variations, BMI, and pubertal status.
Growth hormone stimulation testing is flawed and influenced by multiple patient and assay factors, requiring careful clinical interpretation rather than reliance on strict cutoffs alone.
The evaluation of children with short stature includes monitoring over a prolonged period to establish a growth pattern as well as the exclusion of chronic medical conditions that affect growth. After a period of monitoring, evaluation, and screening, growth hormone stimulation testing is considered when the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is entertained. Though flawed, growth hormone stimulation tests remain part of the comprehensive evaluation of growth and are essential for the diagnosis of growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Variables including testing length, growth hormone assay and diagnostic cut off affect results. Beyond the intrinsic issues of testing, results of GH stimulation testing can be influenced by patient characteristics. Various factors including age, gender, puberty, nutritional status and body weight modulate the secretion of GH.
Yau et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Short stature and growth hormone deficiency. Growth hormone stimulation testing was evaluated. Growth hormone stimulation testing remains an essential but flawed tool for diagnosing growth hormone deficiency, with results significantly influenced by assay variations, BMI, and pubertal status.