Acromegaly: Glucose Suppression Test

Glucose Suppression Test - for Growth Hormone secretory dynamics
http://ccpd.ucsf.edu/oral_glucose.shtml

Indication:

1. The oral glucose tolerance test is used for the diagnosis of acromegaly and to determine remission after surgery.
2. The test is usually used to test for diabetes, insulin resistance, and sometimes reactive hypoglycemia and acromegaly, or rarer disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

Interpretation:

1. In normal individuals, hyperglycemia suppresses growth hormone secretion.
2. In normal individuals, glucose suppresses below 2 ng/ml after ingesting 100g of glucola.
3. More sensitive assays require a growth hormone level below 1 ng/ml to rule out acromegaly.

Caution:
False positive results can occur in patients with diabetes mellitus, anorexia, liver failure, tall adolescents and individuals with growth hormone resistance disorders.
External links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acromegaly