title: Urinary growth hormone measurements as a marker of renal tubular function in diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Urinary growth hormone (UGH) excretion was assessed in 44 adult subjects (10 control, 21 insulin dependent diabetics (Group I), 13 diabetics in poor glycaemic control (Group II)). UGH was markedly elevated in the diabetic population. The UGH excretion in (1) control subjects ranged from undetectable levels to 0.7 microU/h, mean 0.4, (2) Group I 73-422 microU/h, mean 250 and (3) Group II 10-5,283 microU/h, mean 705. There was a significant correlation between UGH excretion and albumin excretion rate (AER) (r = 0.38, P < 0.05) in the subjects studied although only 50% of patients had an AER of > 20 micrograms/min. A stronger correlation was observed between beta 2-microglobulin and UGH excretion (r = 0.7, P < 0.01). There was no significant change in the 6-h serum GH levels following treatment in the patients in Group II. However a 23-79% decline in UGH excretion was observed following improvement of glycaemic control, although UGH levels failed to revert to normal. We conclude that the major factor responsible for increased UGH excretion in DM appears to be reduced tubular reabsorption of the hormone. This test may therefore prove useful as an additional marker for screening for diabetic nephropathy and may help in the understanding of the contribution of renal tubular abnormalities to the nephropathic process.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Woodhead
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000652:urine; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000652:urine; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D013006:Growth Hormone