Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults: provocative testing with GHRP6 in comparison to the insulin tolerance test.

Alaioubi B, Mann K, Petersenn S

Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme12 Nov 2008Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID19006049DOI10.1055/s-0028-1093350PepBankPUB-19006049

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
No side effects were observed during GHRP6 administration in the tested patients and controls.
In plain wordsNo side effects were observed during GHRP6 testing.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
Not applicableSide effects
Study
n = 69
Outcome group
Adverse events · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
During administration of GHRP6 no side effects were observed.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-nine patients with suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease underwent both ITT and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing.
Summary · context
In addition, 20 healthy controls were tested by GHRP6 only.
Report a problemFND-1900604905
02HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
After GHRP6 testing, mean peak GH was lower in GH-deficient patients than in GH-sufficient patients.
In plain wordsGHRP6 produced a lower peak growth hormone response in deficient patients than in patients with sufficient growth hormone.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
DecreasePeak GH response
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Growth hormone sufficient patients
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Mean peak GH
3 microg/l
GHD group
Mean peak GH
14.8 microg/l
GHS group
Source sentences
Summary
For the GHRP6 test, the GH mean peak was 3.0 microg/l (+/-0.8, 0.5-20.9) in the GHD group vs. 14.8 microg/l (+/-4.7, 1.8-95.3) in the growth hormone sufficient (GHS) group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-nine patients with suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease underwent both ITT and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing.
Summary · context
In addition, 20 healthy controls were tested by GHRP6 only.
Report a problemFND-1900604901

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking GHRP-6.

03HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In patients tested for GH deficiency, upper and lower GHRP6 cutoffs established diagnosis in nearly two thirds.
In plain wordsGHRP6 upper and lower thresholds established the diagnosis in nearly two thirds of patients.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
Not applicableDiagnostic classification with two cutoffs
Study
n = 49
Outcome group
Diagnostic test performance · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Upper GH cutoff
11.3 microg/l
GHRP6 test
Lower GH cutoff
3.5 microg/l
GHRP6 test
Source sentences
Summary
Applying upper (11.3 microg/l) and lower (3.5 microg/l) cutoffs with high specificities established the diagnosis in nearly two third of the patients.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-nine patients with suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease underwent both ITT and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing.
Summary · context
In addition, 20 healthy controls were tested by GHRP6 only.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-1900604904
04HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In adults tested for GH deficiency, the GHRP6 peak GH cut-point had 80% sensitivity.
In plain wordsIn adults tested for growth hormone deficiency, the GHRP6 threshold had 80% sensitivity.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
Not applicableDiagnostic sensitivity
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Diagnostic test performance · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Sensitivity
80%
peak GH cut-point 3.5 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis suggested an optimal peak GH cut-point of 3.5 microg/l with 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-nine patients with suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease underwent both ITT and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing.
Summary · context
In addition, 20 healthy controls were tested by GHRP6 only.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-1900604902
05HumanNot a test of GHRP-6 aloneNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In adults tested for GH deficiency, the GHRP6 peak GH cut-point had 95% specificity.
In plain wordsIn adults tested for growth hormone deficiency, the GHRP6 threshold had 95% specificity.
Peptide
GHRP-6
Outcome
Not applicableDiagnostic specificity
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Diagnostic test performance · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Specificity
95%
peak GH cut-point 3.5 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis suggested an optimal peak GH cut-point of 3.5 microg/l with 80% sensitivity and 95% specificity.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-nine patients with suspected hypothalamic or pituitary disease underwent both ITT and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing.
Summary · context
In addition, 20 healthy controls were tested by GHRP6 only.
In this study, GHRP-6 was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking GHRP-6.
Report a problemFND-1900604903

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

Journal Article

MeSH terms

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