title: Influence of growth hormone on a new marker of cartilage metabolism (chondrex).
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a major secretory protein of human chondrocytes (chondrex) as a potential serum marker of bone responsiveness to growth hormone (GH). The study included 18 children (10 F, 8 M), aged 10.9 +/- 2.3 years, bone age 8.8 +/- 2.7 years, height -2.3 +/- 0.22 SDS, affected by isolated idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD). Serum samples for evaluation of chondrex, total, and bone alkaline phosphatase were taken before and 3 and 6 months following treatment with rhGH. The basal serum level of chondrex did not differ between patients (37 +/- 22 ng/ml) and controls (33 +/- 9.8 ng/ml). Following 6 months of treatment with rhGH, a significant increase of height velocity SDS (from -2.8 +/- 0.5 to 1.3 +/- 0.7), total (from 195 +/- 47 to 264 +/- 79 U/liter) and bone alkaline phosphatase (from 81 +/- 21 to 108 +/- 30 U/liter) was observed, while chondrex serum level remained unchanged (from 37 +/- 22 to 36 +/- 29 ng/ml). It was concluded that chondrex cannot be considered a reliable marker of bone responsiveness to GH in the growing child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Regional Hospital of Bolzano, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paganini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adami
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D001827:Body Height; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; C084533:CHI3L1 protein, human; D000071451:Chitinase-3-Like Protein 1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone