title: What endocrinologists should know about growth hormone measurements.
abstract: Determination of human growth hormone (GH) concentration in serum plays a key role in the diagnosis of GH deficiency and GH excess (acromegaly). Methods of measuring GH still lack standardization and show considerable between-method variability. Therefore, correct interpretation of GH test results requires knowledge of measurement techniques and awareness of potential problems in applying recommendations for cut-off values given in the literature. This article focuses on the molecular, structural, and methodologic background of the heterogeneity of assay results and on possible next steps toward standardization.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Research Laboratories, Medizinische Klinik-Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, Munich 80336, Germany. martin.bidlingmaier@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bidlingmaier
authors.forename: Christian J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Strasburger
mesh_terms: D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004704:Endocrinology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D012015:Reference Standards
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone