ABSTRACT
Background: previous in vitro and animal studies have supported a role for growth hormone in development of diabetic nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between basal and stimulated growth hormone and proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients
Methods: 21 type 2 diabetic patients with macroalbuminuria were selected. Fasting insulin, basal and levodopa stimulated growth hormone levels were measured. The control group consisted of 21 type 2 diabetic patients with 24 hr urine protein of less than 50 mg. The two groups were matched according to sex, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index, creatinine clearance, fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood pressure
Results: the patients with macroalbuminuria had higher basal growth hormone [3.1+/-2.6 vs 1.25 +/- 0.7 ng/ml, P = 0.024]. Stimulated growth hormone and fasting insulin levels were not significantly different
Conclusion: there is direct relation between basal growth hormone and development of diabetic nephropathy and this relation suggests a role for growth hormone in human diabetic nephropathy