Growth hormone cut-off post glucagon stimulation test in an Indian cohort of overweight/obese hypopituitary patients for the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency

Obesity has been associated with reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion, which might lead to the over diagnosis of adult GH deficiency (GHD) in overweight (OW)/obese hypopituitary patients. Currently, there are no body mass index (BMI)-specific peak GH cut-offs for the glucagon stimulation test (GST) for assessing adult GHD in India, given the BMI cut-offs vary for Asians. The study's main objective was to determine a peak GH cut-off level for the diagnosis of adult GHD in overweight (OW)/obese individuals utilizing the GST. Forty OW/obese subjects were studied in two groups of 20 each. The first group included 20 OW/obese hypopituitary adults and the second group included 20 control subjects. The intervention consisted of a 3 h GST. The main outcome measured was the peak GH level on GST. The mean age of control subjects was lower (33.15 ± 7.67 v/s. 42.10 ± 13.70 years; P = 0.017) in comparison with hypopituitary adults. The mean BMI (27.93 ± 1.63 v/s. 25.81 ± 1.66 kg/m2; P < 0.001), mean IGF1 (272.81 ± 38.57 v/s. 163.75 ± 42.42; P < 0.001, and mean HOMA IR (11.8 ± 9.7 v/s. 6.02 ± 3.14; P = 0.02) was greater in OW/obese controls. The mean GH peak was significantly higher in control subjects (5.41 ± 3.59 ng/mL v/s. 1.49 ± 1.25 ng/mL; P < 0.001) compared to hypopituitary subjects. ROC curve analysis demonstrated a GH cut-off of 3.3 ng/mL with a moderate sensitivity of 70% and high specificity of 95%, with an AUC of 0.838 (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.710–0.965) for the diagnosis of GHD in overweight/obese hypopituitary adults. This study demonstrates that a cut-off of 3.3 ng/mL would diagnose GHD in Indian overweight/obese hypopituitary adults