Our data show that long-term GH treatment in GH deficient children causes hyperglycaemia and increased insulin secretion. These effects may in some patients induce glucose intolerance, which is reversible with appropriate dietary measures and does not require discontinuation of treatment.

S e r v i c e de P h d i a t r j e . Uni t 6 d'Endocrinologie -77 CHU Rangueil -Toulouse -France GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENCY AN0 NEUROSECRETORY DYS-FUNCTION IN INTRA-UTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION (IUCR)Growth hormone (GH) d e f i c i e n c i e s a r e r a r e l y r e p o r t e d i n I U G R . 1nvestigat.ion of GH s e c r e t i o n by pharmacological t e s t s ( c l o n i d i n e + b e t a x o l o l and glucagon + b e t a x o l o l ) and study o f 24-hour GH secretion was performed i n 20 c h i l d r e n with growth r e t a r d a t i o n and s u s p e c t e d IUGR. defined a s b i r t h s i z e (BS) and b i r t h weight. (BW) below t h e 1Ot.h p e r c e n t i l e f o r g e s t a t i o n a l age. Average age a c o n s u l t a t i o n was 5% y r (2-11 y r ) and growth r e t a r d a t i o n -3.1 SD (-2 t o -4.5 SD). Mean b i r t h s i z e was 43.6 + 2 cm. I n 1 6 c h i l d r e n t h e growth curve showed recovery up t o 1 o r 2 y r followed by v a r y i n g d e g r e e s of decrease i n gr0wt.h v e l o c i t y , and in 4 c h i l d r e n gr0wt.h was s t e a d y .GH d e f i c i e n c y was a b s e n t i n 7 c a s e s and p r e s e n t i n 13 : 2 t.ota d e f i c i e n c i e s ( 2 t e s t s (5 ng/ml and IC ( 2 ng/ml), 3 part.ial d e f ic i e n c i e s ( 2 tests < 10 ng/ml and C I ( 3 ng/ml), 2 d i s s o c i a t e d d e f i c i e n c i e s ( 1 t e s t (10 ng/ml and one > 1 0 ng/ml wi t.h IC < 3 ng/ml and 6 c a s e s of neurosecretory dysfunct.ion ( b o t h t e s t s ) 1 0 ng/ml and I C < 3 ng/ml). SmC was low a t 0.8 + 0 . 2 U / m l b u t t.his was n o t constant..These d a t a showed t.hat study of 24-hour GH s e c r e t i o n i s t h u s of value showing t h a t GH d e f i c i e n c y is f r e q u e n t i n IUGR (13/20) and i s very o f t e n due t o n e u r o s e c r e t o r y dysfunction (6/13). GH therapy i s t h u s a possibility f o r t.hese c h i l d r e n .