Combined arginine and insulin stimulation elicits a robust and consistent copeptin response in short children

The objective of this study was to describe the copeptin response to combined arginine and insulin in children with normal posterior pituitary function. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-arm assessment of serum copeptin concentrations in children (age 7-16 years, n=38) undergoing growth hormone stimulation testing with an arginine-insulin tolerance test (AITT) for short stature or growth deceleration in a tertiary referral center. After overnight fasting, arginine (500 mg/kg) was administered between 0-30 minutes intravenously (IV) followed by insulin (0.1 units/kg IV) at 60 minutes. Copeptin serum concentrations were measured at baseline (0 minutes), at the post-arginine peak (60 minutes), and at the post-insulin peak (90 minutes; 30 minutes post-insulin), respectively. The main outcome was the peak copeptin concentration. Results: Mean ±SD copeptin concentrations increased from 9.9±5.0 pmol/L at 0 minutes to 13.2±5.8 pmol/L at 60 minutes (p
Source: Hormone Research in Paediatrics - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research