title: Normal values of insulin-like growth factor I and their clinical utility in adults.
abstract: The concentration of circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is a potential marker for growth hormone (GH) deficiency in adults. Indeed, researchers have shown that IGF-I levels are of greater diagnostic value than other possible markers, such as IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and the acid-labile subunit (ALS). Accurate age-matched normative data are essential to give patient data diagnostic meaning. Such data are assay specific and must exclude those individuals with certain confounding medical conditions. Post-diagnosis, monitoring of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels can be used to assess the efficacy and safety of GH replacement therapy. Furthermore, IGF-I levels, and possibly ALS levels, can be used to aid the diagnosis and monitoring of acromegaly. For example, acromegaly can be excluded in patients with normal IGF-I levels if liver failure and malnutrition/malabsorption are ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Innenstadt, München, Germany. Strasburger@medinn.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strasburger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidlingmaier
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000379:methods*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012449:Safety
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone