Horm Metab Res 2006; 38(5): 352-355
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-925402
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evaluation of the Components of the Insulin-like Growth Factors System in GH-deficient Adults: Effects of Twelve-month rhGH Treatment

E.  Ferrante1 [*] , C.  Giavoli1 [*] , S.  Porretti1 , E.  Vassallo1 , C.  L.  Ronchi1 , A.  G.  Lania1 , P.  Beck-Peccoz1 , A.  Spada1
  • 1Institute of Endocrine Sciences, University of Milan, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Publikationsverlauf

Received 8 August 2005

Accepted after revision 6 December 2005

Publikationsdatum:
23. Mai 2006 (online)

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Abstract

The impact of GH deficiency and rhGH replacement therapy on IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS levels has been widely studied. There is less information available on IGF-II levels, the component of the ternary complex poorly dependent on GH. We investigate the components of IGFs system in 36 GHD adults (28M, 8F, age 45 ± 14 yrs) before and after 12 months of rhGH therapy (mean dose 0.3 ± 0.1 mg/day). One-hundred healthy sex- and age-matched subjects were studied for comparison. At baseline, GHD patients showed IGF-I and IGF-II levels and IGFs to IGFBP-3 molar ratios that were lower than controls. During therapy, IGF-I levels increased (p < 0.01) to normal range. IGF-II levels, though higher than at baseline (p < 0.01), remained lower than in controls (p < 0.01). ALS and IGFBP-3 significantly increased (p < 0.001). These modifications resulted in normalization in IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio, while no change in IGF-II to IGFBP-3 ratio was observed. In conclusion, the increase of serum IGF-II levels during rhGH treatment in GHD patients probably reflects the increase in the other components of ternary complex (ALS and IGFBP-3). However, serum IGF-II levels as well as IGF-II to IGFBP-3 ratio, although increased, were definitely lower than in controls. This last result, given the increasing evidences of a direct implication of IGF-II in cancer, may further confirm the safety of rhGH replacement in adults with severe GHD as diagnosed by appropriate stimulation tests.