Serum profiles and short-term metabolic effect of pituitary and authentic biosynthetic human growth hormone in man

Abstract. In a double-blind cross-over study we compared pituitary and methionine-free biosynthetic human growth hormone (P-hGH and B-hGH) with respect to pharmacokinetics and short-term metabolic effects in 9 hypopituitary children. They treated themselves for 4 weeks with 2 IU scdaily at 20.00 h. After admittance to hospital 2 IU was given: im the first day, and scthe second. They then switched over to the alternative preparation. The serum profiles of B- and P-hGH were identical. Comparing im and scadsorption, the latter was slower and resulted in smaller areas under the curves, indicating greater local degradation.Both preparations caused identical increases in somatomedin-C, but slightly more sustained after scinjection. Plasma glucose, plasma glucagon, and serum insulin fluctuated within normal ranges. The glucose profile pointed at a modest anti-insulin effect of hGH when given in the morning. The concentration in the blood of lactate, alanine, glycerol and B-OH-butyrate, and in serum of triglyceride, cholesterol and carbamide revealed no abnormalities with either hGH preparation. Finally, no development of anti-GH or E. coli polypeptide antibodies was seen. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics and short-term metabolic effects of B-hGH and P-hGH were identical.