title: IGFs and IGFBPs in adult growth hormone deficiency.
abstract: In the current guidelines for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency (GHD) it is stated that, within the appropriate clinical context, it has to be shown by provocative tests only. But the diagnostic value of measuring IGF-I levels has been recently revisited. It has been confirmed that normal IGF-I levels do not rule out severe GHD in adults. However, it has also been emphasized that very low IGF-I levels in patients highly suspected for GHD (and without malnutrition, liver disease or hypothyroidism) could be considered definite evidence for severe GHD. This assumption particularly applies to patients with childhood-onset, severe GHD or with multiple hypopituitarism acquired in adulthood. The value of measuring IGF-I levels for monitoring the efficacy and the adequacy of rhGH replacement remains definitely accepted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aimaretti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baldelli
authors.forename: Ginevra
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corneli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rovere
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baffoni
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: SValentina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gasco
authors.forename: Riccarda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grottoli
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I