Method for improving the accuracy of diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency
AssigneeUniversity of South Florida
InventorBarry B. Bercu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Somatostatin, a growth hormone suppressant, is administered to an individual before the growth hormone secretion of that individual is provoked. The somatostatin is applied first in bolus form and the bolus administration is followed by a prolonged adminstration of the somatostatin. Both the bolus and the subsequent adminstration of growth hormone suppressant can be administered intravenously. This procedure insures that the growth hormone secretion of the individual's pituitary gland will be reduced to a minimum, thereby insuring that the results of subsequent provocative tests will be standardized and thus interpreted more consistently.
Claims14
A method for improving the diagnosis of individuals having growth hormone deficiency, comprising the steps of administering to the individual a predetermined amount of somatostatin for a predetermined amount of time at a predetermined rate to establish a definite growth hormone secretory trough and following said step with a provocative test, said provocative test being of the type that acts on the hypothalamus and causes it to provoke the pituitary to produce growth hormone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.