Growth Hormone, Prolactin and Cortisol Responses and Growth Patterns in Hyperkinetic Children Treated with Dextro-Amphetamine: Preliminary Findings by Joaquim Puig-Antich, M.D., Laurence L. Greenhill, M.D., Jon Sassin, M.D., and Edward J. Sachar, M.D

摘要

A prospective study of growth was undertaken in two groups of hyperkinetic children: a d-amphetamine-treated (index) group and a phenothiazine-treated (control) group. This study was coupled with longitudinal overnight sleependocrine assessments in the index group. At the end of the first year seven index subjects have been studied for growth and sleep-endocrine measures and eight control subjects have been studied for growth changes only. The significant findings are: (1) growth retardation in the index group; (2) inhibition of mean sleep-related prolactin secretion; (3) a highly significant correlation between loss of expected height percentile during the first year and decrease of mean sleep related prolactin at 6 months, as compared to baseline. These findings suggest that growth inhibition secondary to chronic d-amphetaniine administration in hyperkinetic children might be mediated by inhibition of prolactin secretion.