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Study · Non-randomized trial · n = 69 · 2010

6 results

Diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency using the GHRP-6 Test: comparison with the insulin tolerance test in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal disease.

Alaioubi B, Mann K, Petersenn S

Hormone and metabolic research = Hormon- und Stoffwechselforschung = Hormones et metabolisme27 Nov 2009Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID19946832 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1055/s-0029-1243184 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-19946832
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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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 study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, mean peak cortisol after GHRP6 was 227 nmol/l in adrenal insufficiency and 395 nmol/l in adrenal sufficiency.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, the cortisol rise after GHRP6 was lower in those with adrenal insufficiency than in those without.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    Not applicablePeak cortisol after GHRP6 by adrenal status
    Study

    n = 49

    Comparator
    Adrenal sufficient patients (defined by ITT)
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Mean peak cortisol
    227 nmol/l
    adrenal insufficient
    Mean peak cortisol
    395 nmol/l
    adrenal sufficient

    Source sentences

    Summary
    For GHRP6, the mean cortisol peak was 227+/-25.7 nmol/l in the AI group versus 395+/-35.3 nmol/l in the adrenal sufficient (AS) group.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.
  2. 02HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, a GHRP6 peak cortisol threshold of 299 nmol/l diagnosed adrenal insufficiency with sensitivity 71.0% and specificity 77.8%.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, the GHRP6 test with a set cortisol cut-off found adrenal insufficiency with moderate sensitivity and specificity.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    Not applicableDiagnostic accuracy of GHRP6 peak cortisol threshold
    Study

    n = 49

    Comparator
    Insulin tolerance test
    Analysis
    Primary
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Optimal cortisol threshold
    299 nmol/l
    GHRP6 test
    Sensitivity
    71%
    GHRP6 test
    Specificity
    77.8%
    GHRP6 test

    Source sentences

    Summary
    ROC analysis of peak cortisol levels during GHRP6 test suggested an optimal threshold of 299 nmol/l for the diagnosis of AI (Sens. 71.0%, Spec. 77.8%).
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.
  3. 03HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, no side effects were detected with GHRP6.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, no side effects were detected with the GHRP6 test.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    No significant changeSide effects of the GHRP6 test
    Study

    n = 69

    Comparator
    Insulin tolerance test
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    with no detectable side effects, but had limited accuracy in comparison to the ITT.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.
  4. 04HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, upper (416 nmol/l) and lower (137 nmol/l) GHRP6 thresholds and early morning cortisol established the diagnosis in nearly half of patients, even in a 30 minute test.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, two cut-offs plus morning cortisol gave a diagnosis in nearly half of patients, even with a 30 minute test.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    Not applicableDiagnosis with upper and lower cortisol thresholds
    Study

    n = 49

    Comparator
    Insulin tolerance test
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Upper threshold
    416 nmol/l
    GHRP6 test
    Lower threshold
    137 nmol/l
    GHRP6 test

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Applying upper (416 nmol/l) and lower (137 nmol/l) thresholds with high specificities in combination with early morning cortisol established the diagnosis in nearly half of the patients, even when the GHRP6 test is limited to 30 min duration.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.
  5. 05HumanNon-randomized trialOther

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, the GHRP6 test had limited accuracy in comparison to the insulin tolerance test.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, the GHRP6 test was less accurate than the insulin tolerance test.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    Not applicableAccuracy of the GHRP6 test compared with the insulin tolerance test
    Study

    n = 49

    Comparator
    Insulin tolerance test
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but had limited accuracy in comparison to the ITT.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.
  6. 06HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement

    In patients with suspected HPA axis dysfunction, GHRP6 led to significant activation of the HPA axis.

    In plain wordsIn patients with suspected adrenal problems, GHRP6 clearly switched on the body's stress-hormone axis.

    Peptide
    GHRP-6
    Outcome
    IncreaseHPA axis activation by GHRP6
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Insulin tolerance test
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    1 microg/kgAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    GHRP6 led to significant activation of the HPA axis
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Forty-nine patients with suspected dysfunction of the HPA axis and 20 healthy controls were enrolled.
    Summary · context
    The ITT was performed in patients, and GHRP6 (1 microg/kg) testing in patients and controls.

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.

  1. Version 2Current

    12 Oct 2026, 12:58 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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