title: Findings and theoretical considerations on the usefulness of the acid-labile subunit in the monitoring of acromegaly.
abstract: Growth hormone (GH) action induces a variety of biochemical factors of which insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is conventionally measured for the diagnosis and monitoring of GH-related disorders such as GH deficiency or acromegaly. IGF-I circulates predominantly as a ternary complex with IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and the acid labile subunit (ALS). In the treatment of active acromegaly with the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant, ALS showed a closer correlation with the change in ring size, measured as a clinical indicator of disease activity, than did IGF-I or IGFBP-3. ALS thus seems to be a clinically useful marker of disease activity in acromegaly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München, Germany.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidlingmaier
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strasburger
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; C075944:insulin-like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; C406545:pegvisomant