Is testosterone and estrogen priming prior to clonidine useful in the evaluation of the growth hormone status of short peripubertal children?

Aim: To determine the usefulness of priming with gonadal steroids prior to growth hormone (GH) stimulation with clonidine in the evaluation of the GH status of short peripubertal children.

Children And Methods: Thirty-nine children, eight females and 31 males, were studied, with a mean chronological age of 12.37 +/- 2.